MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- Kayla Malkos stepped up to the plate like she had been there 100 times before this season.

Truth is, she had been at bat for Virginia Wesleyan College's Marlins only 13 times during the 2013 season, so if she was nervous, it certainly didn't show.

The rookie from Roanoke, Virginia (Cave Spring) confidently connected for just her fifth hit of the season Friday, and it was a major one as it helped create a three-run inning that lifted third-seeded Virginia Wesleyan to a 3-0 victory over Landmark Conference champion and second-seeded Susquehanna University in an NCAA second round game.

Virginia Wesleyan improves to 40-6 on the season, establishing a new program record for victories.  The Marlins advance to a 3 p.m. game on Saturday against top-seeded Montclair State University (43-3), which posted a 1-0 win over fifth-seeded DeSales University on Friday.

As a pinch hitter in the lead-off position in the bottom of the sixth inning of a scoreless contest, Malkos stroked the ball into right field to spark what turned out to be the game-deciding inning for the No. 15-ranked Marlins.

Malkos, who singled with two strikes on her, moved to third on a double to center field by juniorTori Higginbotham (Glen Allen/J.R. Tucker).  JuniorKelly Keys (Manassas/Osbourn Park) followed with a perfect bunt single to score Malkos. Junior Lindsey Inzana (Chesapeake/Grassfield) sacrificed to score Higginbotham and rookie Courtney Bogan (Round Hill/Woodgrove) singled up the middle to send Keys in for the third run.

Susquehanna, which entered the game with a 38-7 record a solid hitting team, had one more time at bat in the top of the seventh inning, but could not muster a rally.  The relief pitching of junior Mackenzie Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange) and the alert Marlin defense combined to keep the Crusaders in check.  Brittany Devlin (Furlong, Pa./Central Bucks East) drew a walk, but never left first base.

Susquehanna was limited to solo hits in the first, second and fourth innings, as the pitching of VWC starter Kristina Karagiorgis (Ashburn/Briar Woods) did not allow much of anything.  She walked two batters, struck out two and drew the Crusaders into five flyouts and six groundouts in five innings in the circle.  Creech entered in the sixth and struck out two, while allowing no hits.  The duo of Marlin pitchers faced only 25 batters.

Ashley Cole (Carle Place, N.Y./Carle Place) fell to 15-3 for Susquehanna. She struck out two and got the Marlins to hit into 11 flyballs.  Anna Heggenstaller (Liverpool, Pa./Greenwood) led the SU offense with two hits.

Higginboth, Keys, Karagioris, Bogan and Malkos finished with a single each for Virginia Wesleyan. Rookie catcher Taylor Galvin (Virginia Beach/Kempsville) helped spark the defensive effort for the Marlins by throwing out two Crusaders trying to steal.

Susquehanna will play again in the double-elimination tournament taking on fourth-seeded Kean University on Saturday at 1 p.m. in an elimination game.

--AMDG--