SALISBURY, Md. -- Five errors hampered the first road contest of the season for Virginia Wesleyan College's baseball Marlins who fell12-0 to No. 12 Salisbury University.

The SeaGulls (2-0) added nine hits, including a trio of doubles, to the VWC errors to score runs in six of eight innings. Virginia Wesleyan, which lost for the fourth time to a team ranked in the nation's top 15, managed only four singles and struck out 12 times.

VWC's best chances to score took place in the second and third innings, when runners advanced to second base. The Marlins recorded three hits in the second, which started with a single by junior Zach Bach (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox). He was picked off at first base but rookie C.J. Lindsay (Remington/Bealeton Liberty) and junior Casey King (Virginia Beach/Bayside) followed with singles before Salisbury produced the third out to end the threat.

The Marlins started the third with back-to-back outs, but rookie Ty Boothe (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam) kept VWC alive by drawing a walk and stealing second base. But, the threat ended when the next batter hit a line drive into left for the third out.

Salisbury took the lead with two runs in the second inning and led 6-0 after five innings.  The SeaGulls added four runs in the seventh to pull away.

Virginia Wesleyan used five pitchers, starting with senior Reid Hoffler (Chesapeake/Suffolk Nansemond River)who took the loss. He struck out three batters, walked two, and allowed five hits. Bach led VWC hitting with a pair of singles.

Four pitchers took the mound for Salisbury, which led off with game-winner Brett Collachi (Bear, Del./Saint Mark's).  He fanned seven batters, walked two, and gave up four hits and no runs.  Pete Grasso (Wilmington, Del./I. duPont) topped Salisbury's hitting with a double and two singles.

Virginia Wesleyan competes again on Saturday, Feb. 22, hosting Rutgers University-Newark in a non-conference doubleheader starting at noon. It will be the season opener for the Scarlet Raides.

--AMDG--