VIRGINIA BEACH -- Virginia Wesleyan College's baseball Marlins opened the program's 41st season with a 5-4 loss on Friday, but head coach Nick Boothe had to be pleased with what he saw on the field from a young team.

Six rookies started the game for VWC and responded impressively, helping the Marlins keep the pressure on 12th-ranked Salisbury University from start to finish. 

The SeaGulls (1-0), who trailed 3-0 after three innings, did not notch the win until the last inning, when back-to-back singles by Jordan Gowe (Easton, Md./St. Michaels) and Austin Barefoot (La Plata, Md./La Plata) combined to score Quinn Griffith (Federalsburg, Md./North Caroline) for the 5-4 lead.

Virginia Wesleyan produced one base-runner in the bottom of the ninth, but could not find the hits to tie or pull out the victory at Marlins Field.

The Marlins jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, helped by a single from rookie C.J. Lindsay (Remington/Bealtton Liberty), who scored on a double to left from rookie Chris Gilliam (Mechanicsville/Hanover).  Gilliam scored later on a single from junior Casey King (Virginia Beach/Bayside).

After Salisbury failed to threaten in the third, Virginia Wesleyan added to its lead when juniorJordan Miller (Chesapeake/Grassfield) scored rookie Ty Boothe (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam).  Boothe reached base on a fielder's choice and stole back-to-back bases to help VWC to a 3-0 advantage.

Salisbury cut into the lead with two runs in the top of the fourth, helped by a lead-off single from Griffith, an RBI double from Gowe, and an error. The Gulls' first scoring inning was followed by a standout pitching effort from junior Dan Fein (Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug), who recorded three consecutive strikeouts.

The SeaGulls came back in the top of the fifth to jump in front 4-3.  Kyle Hayman (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) singled, Ken O'Neill (Lothian, Md./Southern) followed with a run-scoring double, and two errors sent in a go-ahead run.

VWC's fifth started strong when Kurz ripped a double into right, but the Marlins could not get him home.  The Marlins got the run they were after in the bottom of the eighth however, when Kurz led off with a single, moved to second on a Boothe single, and scored on shot up the middle by rookie Taylor Erby (Norfolk/Lake Taylor).

Salisbury produced a 12-9 advantage in hits, led by Gowe with three.  Kurz matched that output for VWC.  Both teams recorded a pair of doubles.

Junior Alex Tucci (Stewartstown, Pa./York Catholic) pitched eight innings for Virginia Wesleyan and struck out four batters. He gave up two earned runs. Senior Brooks Kirby (Warwickshire, U.K./Cobham) took over for the ninth inning and allowed two hits.  He also struck out one.

Fein finished with seven strikeouts for the SeaGulls, while walking one, allowing nine hits and four earned runs.  Kyle Hamby (Laurel, Md./Good Counsel) pitched in the ninth and struck out one.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition Saturday, Feb. 15, hosting 15th-ranked Cortland State University at 2 p.m.  The Marlins will also host the Red Dragons on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m.

--AMDG--