VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – A walk off effort helped the Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team capture its ninth-straight victory as it downed Hampden-Sydney, 7-6, Thursday afternoon at Kenneth R. Perry Field. With the win, the squad moves to 17-7 on the season and remains perfect in conference play (9-0). Hampden-Sydney slides to 10-11 on the year (4-4 ODAC).

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Randy Neisz got things going as he singled through the right side. He was immediately moved to second as Jacob Pilarski was walked in the next at bat. This brought up Zack Clark, who lined one just over the shortstop's glove, allowing Neisz to make his way around third and cross home, giving the Marlins another crucial ODAC victory.

The Marlins found themselves down early in the game as a homer in the second gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead. VWU tied it up in the bottom of the fourth though as a Deon Hammand RBI single scored one and a Jordan Sprouse sacrifice fly plated another. After the Hampden-Syndey cashed in two more in back-to-back innings, the Marlins were able to cut the deficit to one run in the sixth as an Austin Obenour groundout brought in Hammond.

HSC continued to try and pull away, this time in the eighth as two more runs gave them the 6-3 lead. Unfazed, the Marlins tied it up on an odd bunt play that included an error in the bottom of the frame. This would take the tilt to the ninth, where the eventual walk off took place.

Jay Crusemire started on the mound for the home squad, going 7.0 innings and striking out nine. Two Marlin relievers combined for two outs in the eighth, but it was Glen Pizzanello who came in to finish the job, fanning one en route to his fifth win of the year.

Baseball returns to action on Sunday for a doubleheader with Roanoke.