WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Virginia Wesleyan College's baseball team got off to a good start in Tuesday's regular-season finale, but the start for the host Saints of Marymount University was better.

VWC's Marlins scored twice in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a double to left centerfield from sophomore Taylor Erby (Norfolk/Lake Taylor), but Marymount matched the run production in the bottom of the inning and outscored VWC 5-0 over the next two innings.  The Saints went on to post a 9-3 victory at the state-of-the-art Nationals Youth Baseball Academy field at Fort Dupont Park.

Virginia Wesleyan (15-12) managed only one hit through the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings, until Erby doubled again in the sixth.  He stole third and scored when senior Zach Bach (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox) hit a grounder to send the runner home.  But, the Marlins produced only one more hit the rest of the way.

Marymount (15-16) finished with a slime 7-6 edge in hits overall, but two were home runs.  Brandon Padgett (Springfield/West Springfield) knocked out a two-run shot in the second inning and Ben Berczek (Chesapeake/Grassfield) hit a lead-off homer in the fifth.

Erby topped hitting for VWC with his pair of doubles.

Sophomore Patrick Barrett (Wantagh, N.Y./General Douglas MacArthur) took the pitching loss for VWC, working three innings.  He struck out two, walked three, and allowed four hits.  Charlie DiGiulian (Annandale/Bishop O'Connell) was the winner, pitching six innings, striking out five batters, walking one, and allowing five hits.

Virginia Wesleyan now turns its attentions to the start of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship tournament.  The Marlins enter the event at City Stadium in Lynchburg as the No. 2 seed. VWC will take on Roanoke College at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 23.

--AMDG--