VIRGINIA BEACH -- Virginia Wesleyan College's baseball Marlins matched Apprentice School's Builders in hit production in Thursday's non-conference game at Marlins Field, but it was Apprentice that posted the advantage in runs en route to an 8-5 victory.

The Builders (18-8) used back-to-back three-run innings to take the lead for good after the Marlins jumped in front 2-0 in the second inning.  Rookie Chris Gilliam (Mechanicsville/Hanover) started the inning with a double and scored when rookie Ty Boothe (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam) followed with another double.  Rookie Clay Walker (South Hill/Park View) kept things going with a single and after both runners advanced on steals, rookie Austin Gammon (North Chesterfield/Floyd C. Bird) hit into a fielder's choice that scored a run and gave VWC the 2-0 edge.

Apprentice cut into the lead with a solo run in the top of the fourth, and jumped ahead for good in the top of the sixth with three runs. Trevin Wilson (Newport News/Hertiage) and Chris Aldridge (Toano/Warhill) both singled, setting things up for Brian Blevin (Gloucester/Gloucester) who smashed a three-run homer to give the Builders the lead.

The Builders tacked on three more runs to open up a 7-2 lead in the top of the fifth, all after the Marlins turned a double play early in the inning. But two hits, two wild pitches, and a passed ball combined to help score the runs to pad the Apprentice lead.

Virginia Wesleyan (7-13) fell 1-2-3 in the sixth and seventh innings, but got things clicking offensively again in the eighth when senior Brett Sutryk (Bath, N.Y./Haverling) started with a double to right field. Junior Zach Bach (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox) singled him home.