ASHLAND, Va. -- A valiant comeback by the Virginia Wesleyan College baseball team fell a little short Wednesday as the Marlins dropped an 8-5 Old Dominion Athletic Conference decision to the host Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College.

Randolph-Macon (15-15-1, 8-6 ODAC) led 7-0 entering the sixth inning when Virginia Wesleyan (5-20, 1-11) started its rally. The Marlins scored twice in the inning on an RBI single by Alex Tucci (Stewartstown, Pa./York Catholic) and a hard-hit ball by Daniel Cox (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood).

R-MC got one of those runs back in the bottom of the seventh, but Virginia Wesleyan closed the gap with a three-run eighth inning.  All three runs came after two outs, as Matt Ittner (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox) andJosh Miller (Norfolk, Va./Greenbrier Christian) both singled to get on base.  Anthony Siracusa (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) followed with a triple to left center field to score two runs.  Siracusa scored the third run on a single to left center by Alex Lambert (Virginia Beach/Ocean Lakes).

The Marlins started their half of the ninth inning with a walk, but hopes of stretching the rally ended with three consecutive strikeouts.

Virginia Wesleyan out-hit Randolph-Macon 13-12, led by a 3-for-5 effort by Lambert. Pike Brynildsen (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams), Miller, and Siracusa all added two hits each.

Six pitchers worked for Virginia Wesleyan, beginning with Siracusa.  He faced 18 batters in three innings, struck out four and walked two.  He also allowed seven hits and four earned runs.

R-MC used four pitchers, with Jake Bram (Chesapeake, Md./Chesapeake) starting.  He pitched through six inning, striking out two, walking three, and allowing eight hits and two earned runs.

The Marlins compete again on Saturday, April 14, hosting Washington and Lee University in an ODAC twinbill starting at noon.

--AMDG--