Box Score VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia - The Virginia Wesleyan baseball fell to the Lions of Piedmont College in a single home game on Saturday, Feb. 15, at Kenneth R. Perry Field at TowneBank Park. The Marlins fall to 0-3 on the season while Piedmont improves to 1-2.
GAME INFORMATION
The game was the first home game for the Marlins of the season. Piedmont, up in Va. for a series against the Captains of CNU, rescheduled the game with the Marlins from their tournament last weekend that got snowed out.
INSIDE THE SCORE
The game began with the Lions putting two up on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning taking an early 2-0 lead. The Marlins had the opportunities to take the lead in both the bottom of the first and second innings with bases loaded and all six runners left on base. The third, fourth, and fifth innings were scoreless for the Lions as pitcher Jay Crusemire shutdown the visitors in three, 1-2-3 innings.
Virginia Wesleyan managed to put a run up on the board in the bottom of fifth as Zack Clark ran home on a sacrifice fly from Tyriq Campbell to centerfield putting the score at 2-1. The next three innings were scoreless for Piedmont and the Marlins found two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to head into the ninth with a 3-2 lead. The first run for VWU was scored by Matt Sinko who came home on a fielders choice bunt play by Miles Christian. Sinko scored after the Lions pitcher overthrew the catcher for an error scoring the run and advancing the two runners, Reese Reid and Christian a base each to third and second respectively. Reid later scored on a passed ball during an Austin Obenour at-bat.
The Lions led off the top of the ninth with a double to left field from Burkett. He then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored the tying run on a single through the left side by DeJesus. Piedmont's second run came on an error by the second baseman who bumble the grab to complete the groundout to first ending the inning and the game.
VWU had an opportunity in the bottom half of the inning to get the walk-off win with the bases loaded and Reid at the plate. Reid gets ahead in the count 2-1 and then 3-2 with two outs and Ballstadt got Reid to swing allowing the Lions to win the game 4-3.
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by Zack Clark, Matt Sinko, and Reese Reid who all crossed the plate for VWU. Tyriq Campbell and Miles Christian earned the RBI's that scored two of the runs. Jay Crusemire threw eight innings facing 31 batters, striking out nine while throwing 84 strikes in 113 pitches thrown. Robert Cook (L: 0-1) took the loss throwing one inning giving up one run and two hits in six batters faced.
PIEDMONT LEADERS
The Lions were led by Kyle DeJesus with two hits that scored two RBI's. Jonathen Burkett also tallied two hits and brought in one RBI, while the final RBI was hit in by Zach Swindell. On the mound, Ryan Cox got the win throwing three innings while Carter Ballstadt earned the save.
UP NEXT
Virginia Wesleyan returns to action on Wednesday, February 19, when they travel down to North Carolina for another midweek road game. The Marlins will face the Monarchs of Methodist University at 4 PM in Fayetteville, NC.
