VIRGINIA BEACH -- Hitting came to a stop for Virginia Wesleyan College's Marlins in the final three innings of Wednesday's non-conference baseball game against the Marymount University Saints.

The Marlins connected for 15 hits in the first six innings, but could not find anything thereafter off lefty Scott Robison who entered the game for Marymount in the bottom of the sixth inning. He fanned the only batter he faced in that inning and then retired the Marlins in order in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to help the Saints secure a 6-5 victory.

Robison (Ripon, Calif./Ripon) entered the game and diffused a potentially big inning for the Marlins, who had bases loaded with two outs. Josh Mason (Chesapeake/Bishop Sullivan Catholic) singled to centerfield, Jordan Miller (Chesapeake/Grassfield) singled to right, and sophomore C.J. Lindsay (Remington/Bealeton Liberty) walked to fill the bags.  That's when Marymount called in Robison, who struck out the next batter to end the inning. 

Robison struck out two batters overall in his 3.1 innings on the mound for the Saints, who used four pitchers overall. John LaMotta (Philadelphia/Neumann-Goretti) started.

Virginia Wesleyan started strong, connecting for four hits in the bottom of the first inning to score three runs. Matt Murray (Nottingham, Pa./Quarryville Solanco), Nik Milvo (Norfolk/Chesapeake Indian River), Mason, and Miller all singled in the inning for VWC.

Marymount tallied once in the top of the third, helped by a single from Carlos King (Washington, D.C./Bell Multicultural), who scored on a sacrifce fly from Stephen Berczek (Chesapeake/Hickory).  But, VWC took the run back in the bottom of the inning, which began with a double into right field by Mason.  He scored on a Lindsay sacrifice to left to give VWC a 4-1 lead.

But, the lead disappeared in the top of the fourth when Marymount scored three times off five hits. The Saints took a 6-4 lead with two runs in the top of the fifth, aided by two VWC errors.

Virginia Wesleyan put together a scoring threat in the fourth with two runners on, but could not get them home.  The Marlins sid score in the bottom of the fifth when Randy Neisz (Richmond/J.R. Tucker) sacrificed to plate Lindsay, who led off the inning with a single.

VWC used five pitchers, starting with rookie Trey Hanchey (Norfolk/Granby), who threw in the first two innings. Rookie Seth Houston (Virginia Beach/Ocean Lakes) followed for the next three innings.

Mason, Miller, and Milvo all cranked out three hits, including a double each, to top VWC's 15-hit total. Justin Erby (Norfolk/Lake Taylor) also doubled for the Marlins.

Marymount finished with 13 hits, including a double each from Ryan Blake (Chesapeake/Hickory) and Jack Breheny (Alexandria/Gonzaga Prep).

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Saturday, March 14, hosting Bridgewater College's Eagles in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.

--AMDG--