FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina - The Virginia Wesleyan baseball team fell to the Monarchs of Methodist University 11-3 in a single midweek road game on Wednesday, Feb. 19, in Fayetteville, NC. The Marlins fall to 0-4 on the season while Methodist improves to 4-3.

INSIDE THE SCORE
The game began with the Monarchs scoring a single run in the bottom half of both the first and second innings to lead 2-0 heading into the third. MU posted another two runs in the bottom third to lead 4-0 through the first third of the game. 

VWU found their way onto the scoreboard in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs that were scored on back-to-back hit by pitches with a bases-loaded situation. After a flyout by Connor Hall, Austin Obenour was hit by a pitch to get on base. Tyriq Campbell singled through the right side to put runners on first and second. Nick Price was walked to load the bases and Matt Sinko and Matt Dagostino were both hit to reach base scoring Obenour and Campbell as the Marlins trailed by two, 4-2 through three and a half.

The Monarchs added three runs in the bottom of the fourth taking a 7-2 lead which then grew to 10-2 in the bottom of the seventh after the fifth and sixth were scoreless for both teams. Methodist added the 11th run in the bottom half of the eighth before Virginia Wesleyan got the last word in with a solo run in the top of the ninth. Dagostino reached base on a double to center field and came home on two wild pitches as the Marlins fell 11-3.

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by Tyriq Campbell and Matt Dagostino with one run and a hit each. Dagostino and Matt Sinko recorded the two RBI in the game. 

Andrew Lowe (L: 0-1) took the loss pitching four innings during which he gave up seven runs, three earned, on eight hits while walking three and striking out two.

METHODIST LEADERS
The Monarchs were led by Tucker Criswell who tallied two runs on four hits and brought in three RBI in four at-bats. Ethan Carmack scored three RBI on two hits in four at-bats while crossing the plate once himself. 

Lance Fuerstenberg (W: 1-0) pitched 3.2 innings giving up no runs and no hits while walking three and striking out four. 

UP NEXT
Virginia Wesleyan returns to action on Saturday, February 22, when they host Bombers of Ithaca College in the first home series of the season. The Marlins and Bombers will play two games on Saturday starting at 12 PM with game two following at 3 PM. The third game of the series will take place on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 11 AM.