Marlins Conclude Tourney Play with 3-0 Loss to CMS

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- No. 8 Virginia Wesleyan College concluded play in the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a 3-0 loss to Claremont Mudd Scripps on Sunday morning.

It is the second time in as many days that the Marlins faced the Athenas, a team that also made the Gold Bracket from the Marlins' pool. Both teams lost in the first round of the Gold Bracket, resulting in a matchup in the consolation bracket. CMS will move on to face Berry College, another consolation bracket winner.

Claremont pitcher Anna Gurr did her best job of limiting the Marlins' powerful lineup, forcing five groundouts to the pitcher in the first two innings.

The Athenas scored all three runs in the top of the third on a two-RBI double off the bat of Carly Roleder that scored Tara Robinson and Shannon O'Neill followed by an RBI single from Abigail Metsch as Roleder crossed the plate.

Claremont looked poised to score again in the top of the fifth as Roleder led off the frame with a double. Virginia Wesleyan went to the bullpen for Kasey Newcomb who set down the next three batters in order to preserve the 3-0 score.

The Marlins attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning when Kayla Dost walked with two outs. Taylor Galvin singled, moving Dost to second and bringing the tying run to the plate, but Gurr induced a groundout to end the contest.

Roleder and Reeve Grobecker each had a pair of hits for Claremont Mudd Scripps (13-5-1) while the former also drove in a pair of runs. Gurr (9-2) struck out three while allowing three hits and two walks in seven frames.

Dost, Galvin, and Jessica Lindsay each had a hit for the Marlins while Courtney Bogan stole a base, giving her a steal in each contest this season. Newcomb threw three innings of hitless relief to keep the game close.

No. 8 Virginia Wesleyan (11-4) travels to the University of Mary Washington (3-9) Thursday for a 3 p.m. non-conference doubleheader.