Marlin Bats Silenced in Loss to Methodist

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Virginia Wesleyan College baseball team managed just six hits in Tuesday afternoon's 4-0 loss to Methodist University, a rematch of last week's contest won by the Marlins.

The Marlins managed to get a hit in each of the first two innings, although coming with two outs. Randy Neisz doubled in the first and Matt Murray singled in the second, but Seth Beard struck out the following batter both times to escape unscathed.

The Methodist pitcher would effectively silence the Marlins the remainder of his appearance, not allowing a hit to leave the infield. Beard (1-1) worked five shutout innings, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out 10.

Methodist scraped together a lone run in the bottom of the third when Alex Rodriguez singled and stole second before scoring on a Stephen Nalls single through the right side.

That would be the lone run until the eighth inning as Marlin starter Luke Chiasson did his best to match Beard on the mound.

The first-year, Chiasson (0-1) finished the afternoon having allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks while striking out two.

After Tyler Floyd pitched a scoreless seventh, the Monarchs (10-7) used the bottom of the eighth to tack on much needed insurance runs.

With two outs and a runner on second, Ray Lanners singled through the right side to plate Nalls. A stolen base moved Lanners to scoring position where Tyler Hardee singled him home for a 3-0 edge. Pete Wildeboer finished the scoring with a double to right-center that chased home Hardee.

Neisz finished the afternoon going 2-for-3 for the Marlins.

Virginia Wesleyan (9-5/3-1) looks to extend its conference lead Wednesday when Hampden-Sydney College (14-6/1-1) comes to town for a 3 p.m. ODAC tilt.