VIRGINIA BEACH -- Sophomore Jordan Miller singled into left field with bases loaded Saturday to drive in the winning run in a thrilling 5-4 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) victory over the Maroons of Roanoke College.

It was the second victory of the day on Marlins Field for the host team as Virginia Wesleyan also won 2-1 in the opening game.  The sweep improved VWC's league mark to 6-8 and its overall record to 9-20, while Roanoke dropped to 5-9 in the league and to 12-17 overall.

Roanoke trailed 4-1 entering the eighth inning of the second game, but produced three singles to combine with three walks and a VWC error to send in three runs to tie the game at 4-4.

VWC managed only a single in the bottom of the eighth and gave up two singles to Roanoke in the top of the ninth, but the defense held the Maroons on the bags.

The Marlins started the ninth with a strike out, but senior Kenny Belgrave (Norfolk/Granby) walked and moved to second and third on wild pitches.  Sophomore Casey Bryant (Virginia Beach/Ocean Lakes) kept things going with a walk and senior Josh Miller (Norfolk/Chesapeake Greenbrier Christian) loaded bases when he was walked intentionally.  That brought Jordan Miller (Chesapeake/Grassfield) to the plate where he knocked out his game-winning hit.

Sophomore Alex Tucci (Stewartstown, Pa./York Catholic) improved to 4-4 on the mound with a complete game.  He struck out a season-high nine batters while scattering nine hits and five walks, and allowing three earned runs.

Jordan Miller led VWC hitting with a pair of doubles and a single.  Belgrave knocked out a double and Josh Miller finished with two singles.

Roanoke used Tyler Grouten (Avon, Conn./Avon), Jacob McMillan (Vinton/William Byrd), and Chad Hill (Roanoke/William Byrd) on the mound, with Grouten pitching through five innings.  The trio combined to strike out eight, walk eight and give up 11 hits and four earned runs.  Cam Cassady (Vienna/James Madison) led Roanoke hitting with three singles.

Virginia Wesleyan led all the way in the first game, taking a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning.  Matt Ittner (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox) led off the inning with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Belgrave.

The Marlins added another run in the bottom of the seventh when a fielder's choice byBilly Crow (Bath, N.Y./Haverling) scored Bryant, who opened the inning with a walk. Josh Miller followed Bryant to base when he was hit by a pitch, and a walk to Jordan Miller loaded the bases for Crowe.

Roanoke averted the shutout in the top of the ninth when Clark Crutchfield (Charlottesville/Covenant) singled to score Bradley Mattox (Vinton/William Bryd) who led off the inning with a walk.

Dylan Stoskus (Asburn/Arlington Bishop O'Connell) took the pitching win for VWC and Brooks Kirby (Warwickshire, England/Cobham School) earned the save.  Stoskus (3-5) struck out seven batters, walked one and allowed seven hits and one earned run.  Kirby fanned two batters.

Cameron Holshouser (Salem/Glenvar) was the losing pitching after striking out four, walking four and giving up one hit and two earned runs in six innings.  Austin Gregory (Roanoke/Hidden Valley) pitched the final two innings for the Maroons.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Wednesday, April 10, playing in a single ODAC game at Hampden-Sydney College at 3:30 p.m.

--AMDG--