VIRGINIA BEACH -- Pitching and hitting came together on Saturday for Virginia Wesleyan College to help the Marlins to a 4-0, 8-5 sweep over the Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers University-Newark at Marlins Field.

The Marlins (2-4) outhit the Raiders 7-5 in the 4-0 opener and 8-6 in the second game, highlighted by a 3-for-4 showing at the plate by rookie Taylor Erby (Norfolk/Lake Taylor) in the first game.  He belted a double in the game, along with junior Zach Bach (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox) and senior Brett Sutryk (Bath, N.Y./Haverling). 

Rookie Nick Kurz (Yorktown/Grafton) finished 3-of-4 for VWC in the second game, with a double.  Rookie C.J. Lindsay (Remington/Bealeton Liberty) also doubled for the Marlins.

That hitting complemented stand out pitching efforts, beginning with junior Dylan Stoskus (Ashburn/Arlington Bishop O'Connell) who guided the Marlins to the win in the opener.  He struck out nine batters, walked three and allowed four hits in a scoreless eight innings.  

Rookie Patrick Barton (Alton/Halifax County) tossed through the first three innings of the second game for VWC, helping the Marlins to a 2-0 lead.  He struck out one, walked five and gave up only one hit.  Rookie Riley Koonce (Virginia Beach/Ocean Lakes) worked two innings and struck out two, before sophomore Sean Greiser (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam) stepped in to finish.  He struck out four batters and allowed nothing.

Rutgers-Newark (0-2) wiped out a 2-0 deficit in the second game with a four-run fourth fueled by three hits.  A Jeff Reinecke (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) double scored Jimmy Napolitano (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) and Brian Kokos (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley), who both walked earlier.  A Marlin error helped score a third run, before a single by Murray scored Reinecke.

Virginia Wesleyan came back strong in the bottom of the inning however, taking a 5-4 lead on a three-run effort. Bach led off with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on walks to Sutryk and Jordan Miller (Chesapeake/Grassfield).  A Rutgers error sent one run in and a single by Kurz into right scored two runs.

The Scarlet Raiders threatened in the top of the fifth by loading bases, but could not find the hit to do any damage. VWC did do some damage in its turn at bat in the fifth, staring with a single by Erby up the middle.  He moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored on a Lindsay double to left.  Sutryk singled in the second run to help VWC to a 7-4 lead.

Rutgers added a run in the top of the sixth but did not gain any ground on the Marlins as VWC took it back in the bottom of the inning. Rookie Ty Boothe (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam) hit a sacrifice fly to score Jason Erby (Norfolk/Lake Taylor) who walked to lead off the inning.

Both teams produced scoring opportunities through the first seven innings of the first game, but could not squeeze out a run. Rutgers-Newark had a threat brewing in the top of the eighth after Napolitano singled and Murray walked, but a fly out and strike out left both runners stranded.

Virginia Wesleyan produced four runs in the bottom of the inning to virtually ice the game.  Taylor Erby belted a two run single, Lindsay sacrificed into center to score one, and rookie Austin Gammon (North Chesterfield/Lloyd C. Bird) singled home the fourth run for VWC.

The Raiders tried to spark something in the top of the ninth, but left two runners stranded on a strike out that ended the game.

Michael Garcia (New Milford, N.J./Bergen Catholic) stuck out five batters for Rutgers-Newark in the first game and Jonathan Dominguez (Newark, N.J./East Side) fanned five in four innings of the second game.

Scarlet Raider hitting was highlighted by a Kevin Olah (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) double in the first game and and Reinecke double in the second contest.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Sunday, Apr. 23, traveling to Danville, Va. to face Averett University's Panthers (3-3) at 1 p.m.

--AMDG--