ASHLAND, Va. -- A big five-runn fourth inning did not hold up for the Virginia Wesleyan College baseball Marlins on Wednesday, as the nationally-ranked Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College eked out a 6-5 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) victory at Estes Park.

Jordan Schmeer (Richmond/Benedictine) connected for a single in the bottom of the sixth inning to score Michael Trentham (Midlothian/James River) with what turned out to be the winning run. Michael Kroll (Virginia Beach/Cape Henry Collegiate) also singled in the inning for the Jackets (18-6, 9-6), who entered the game ranked No. 12 in one national poll and No. 15 in another.

Virginia Wesleyan (12-8, 11-4), which remained in second place in the current ODAC standings despite the loss, wiped out a 2-0 deficit with a five-run production in the top of the fourth.  Sophomore Taylor Erby (Norfolk/Lake Taylor) led off for the Marlins with a single, moved to second on a balk, and took third on an R-MC throwing error.  A single from senior Jordan Miller (Chesapeake/Grassfield) sent Erby in the for the score.

Sophomore C.J. Lindsay (Remington/Bealeton Liberty) kept things going with a single to score senior Zach Bach (Virginia Beach/Frank W. Cox), who reached base on a fielder's choice.  A single from sophomore Nik Milvo (Norfolk/Chesapeake Indian River) plated another run and a single up the middle from rookie Brandon Kussmaul (Virginia Beach/Landstown) scored two runs to send VWC into a 5-2 lead.

But, R-MC came back quickly, taking back three runs in the bottom of the same inning to create a 5-all tie. Mitchell Keeler (Mechanicsville/Atlee), Trentham, Kroll and Schmeer all singled in the inning to help the Jackets wipe out the deficit.

VWC threatened in the top of the sixth with two-out singles from Justin Erby (Norfolk/Lake Taylor) and junior Matt Murray (Nottingham, Pa./Quarryville Solanco), but could not find another hit to plate the runs.  Virginia Wesleyan continued to threaten after that as well, putting runners on in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, but left them stranded.

Sophomore Austin Gammon (North Chesterfield/L.C. Bird) started on the mound for the Marlins and pitched to 20 batters in four innings.  He waked one and gave up seven hits before senior Alex Tucci (Stewartstown, Pa./York Catholic) entered in the fifth. He gave up just three hits, but took the loss and fell to 1-2.  Riley Koonce (Virginia Beach/Ocean Lakes) and Josh Mason (Chesapeake/Bishop Sullivan Catholic) also spent time on the mound for VWC.

R-MC used five pitchers, with Tanner Phillips (Powhatan/Powhatan) taking the win and improving to 2-0. JT Williamson (Springfield/West Springfield) recorded his fourth save of the season.

VWC outhit the Jackets 15-11, led by Justin Erby with a 4-for-5 day at the plate.  Taylor Erby, Murray, Lindsay and Milvo all recorded two hits each. Schmeer finished with three singles for R-MC.

--AMDG--