ATLANTA, Georgia - The Virginia Wesleyan baseball team kicked off the 2020 season with an 8-0 loss to the Eagles of Emory University at Chappell Park in Atlanta, GA. The Marlins fall to 0-1, while the Eagles move to 1-0. 

INSIDE THE SCORE
The game began with the Marlins going three up and three down bring the Eagles to the plate. After a rough start to the bottom of the first, Jacob Pilarski struck out back-to-back batters saving the inning having given up just one run. Both teams went scoreless in the second inning and the Lions kept the Marlins off the board in the top of the third. Emory took hold of the momentum in the bottom of the third as the Lions scored three runs going ahead 4-0. EU added another pair of runs in the bottom fourth going up 6-0 and increased their lead further in the fifth with two more for an 8-0 advantage, which would be the final score.

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by Dylan Gentry with two hits in four at-bats. Gentry and Zack Clark each recorded a stolen base in the game. Jacob Pilarski (0-1) was credited with the loss pitching three innings during which he faced 18 batters and gave up five hits, four runs, two walks and struck out five.

EMORY LEADERS
Emory University was led by Richard Brereton with three hits in four at-bats to score two runs and bring in two RBI. Michael Edelman and Ryan Adelman also tallied two runs in the top of the line-up. Jack Rubenstein also added two RBI in the game. Brereton (1-0) picked up the win on the mound throwing 5.1 innings to give up only three hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game came in the bottom of the third inning when the Eagles posted a three-run inning taking a 4-0 lead over the Marlins who could not answer despite leaving several runners on the bases.

UP NEXT
The Marlins return to action tomorrow, February 8, when they take on Piedmont College on day two of the Piedmont College Early Spring Tournament in Demorest, GA. The Marlins and Lions take to the diamond for a 5 PM first pitch start time. Fans can follow all the action by live stats or live broadcast.