FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- When Methodist University's Monarchs posed their biggest threat of Tuesday's non-conference baseball game with Virginia Wesleyan College, the visiting Marlins stayed calmed and snuffed it out.

Two walks and a batter hit by a pitch loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Monarchs, who trailed 3-0.  Senior Reid Hoffler (Chesapeake/Suffolk Nansemond River) entered the game at that point to pitch for the Marlins and struck out the first batter he faced.

Methodist breathed a little easier when the next batter, Matt Jack, was hit by a pitch and a runner scored.  But, any hopes of an extended rally stopped on the next play when Virginia Wesleyan turned a double play from second baseman Clay Walker (South Hill/Park View), to shortstop Brett Sutryk (Bath,N.Y./Haverling), to first baseman Casey King (Virginia Beach/Bayside) to end the threat and the game. 

Virginia Wesleyan held on for a 3-1 victory, marking the Marlins' fourth win in their last five games.

Hoffler picked up the save after pitching the final inning.  He struck out one and gave up nothing after entering the game in relief of juniorReed Duffer (Keysville/Randolph Henry). Duffer improved to 2-0 after pitching eight innings and striking out two, walking five, and allowing just four hits.

Virginia Wesleyan (7-12) took the lead in the first inning when rookie Taylor Erby (Norfolk/Lake Taylor)belted a RBI-single. His hit scored Sutryk, who reached base earlier on a Methodist error.

The Marlins added another run in the top of the third in a very similar play.  Sutryk led off the inning reaching base on an error. He moved to second when Zach Bach (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox) singled and took third when rookie C.J. Lindsay (Remington/Bealeaton Liberty)drew a walk.  Erby came back to the player and reached on a fielder's choice that scored Sutryk.

Methodist (13-5) put two runners on twice in the early innings, but Duffer and the Marlin defense combined to keep the Monarchs threatless until the bottom of the ninth.

VWC scored its third run in the top of the eighth when rookie Ty Boothe (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam)hit an RBI single, scoring Bach who singled earlier.

Virginia Wesleyan outhit Methodist 7-4, led by Boothe and Bach with two hits each.  Lucas Scott (Fuquay Varina, N.C./Fuquay Varina) topped Methodist hitting with a double. Four Monarchs shared pitching time, led by Jacob Shumate (Leland, N.C./North Brunswick) who absorbed his first loss in three starts.  He fanned two, walked one, and gave up two hits in three innings.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to action on Wednesday, March 13, hosting Christopher Newport University at 3 p.m. at Marlins' Field.

--AMDG--