VIRGINIA BEACH-- Brandon Thigpin only connected for one hit for Methodist University in its baseball game on Tuesday at Virginia Wesleyan College.

But, for the visiting Monarchs from Greensboro, North Carolina, it was the hit that completely changed momentum in the non-conference game at Marlins Field.

Thigpin (Wallace, N.C./East Duplin) ripped a three-run home run over the right field fence to tie the game in the top of the eighth inning and help Methodist wipe out a five run deficit. Methodist went on to score eight runs in the inning, and tack on four more in the top of the ninth, to hand the Marlins a 14-7 loss.

Virginia Wesleyan (6-15) seemed to have things riding in its favor after the Marlins erased a two-run lead by Methodist (13-15) with a four-run fourth inning.  VWC connected for four hits in the inning, including a two-run double down the left field line by Matt Ittner (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox).

The Marlins rode the 4-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh when they created more breathing room by posting three runs.  Evan Polk (Chesapeake/Great Bridge), Scott Montgomery (Virginia Beach/Tallwood) and Brett Sutryk (Bath, N.Y./Haverling) all singled in the inning, which was highlighted by a two-run double to the base of the left field fence by Josh Miller (Norfolk/Greenbrier Christian).

Matters started off well for the Marlins in the top of the eighth inning when the lead-off Methodist batter struck out.  But, after that it was all Methodist as the Monarchs sent 12 batters to the plate, producing seven hits that helped send in the eight runs that opened up a 10-7 lead.

Methodist stopped VWC 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth and returned with the bats to knock out three more hits that helped send in four runs for the final margin of victory.

Methodist finished with a 15-9 advantage in hits, led by Ronnie Hatfield (Fuquay-Varina, N.C./Wake Christian) with a 4-for-5 showing that drove in three runs.  Sutryk, Polk and Josh Miller led VWC with two hits each.

Methodist used six pitchers overall, starting with Daniel Royer (York, Pa./Central), who worked two innings, and finishing with Thigpin, who also worked two innings.  The six Monarchs combined to strike out five batters, walking two and allow nine hits and five earned runs.

Virginia Wesleyan used five pitchers, starting with Sean Greiser (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam), and finishing with Kyle Piper (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam).  The Marlin pitchers struck out 10 batters, five by Greiser, walked 10, and gave up 15 hits and 10 earned runs.

The Marlins have less than 24 hours to shake off the loss as they play again on Wednesday, March 27, taking on the Randolph-Macon College Yellow Jackets (8-9) in a single Old Dominion Athletic Conference game beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Marlins Field.

--AMDG--