The Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team (3-2) lost a ten-inning thriller to Montclair State 12-11.
John Bastiaans led the Marlins going 4-for-6 with a grand slam and a triple, for a total of six RBI, and scored two runs.
Edgar Harwood was 2-for-7 at bat, scored one run, and stole one base.
Marcell Whitfield went 2-for-5, registered one RBI, and scored one run.
Montclair started strong with a run at the top of the first inning. The Marlins had opportunities as
Edgar Harwood recorded the first hit of the day for the Marlins; but they were unable to convert, leaving three left on base at the bottom of the first.
In the top of the second inning, the Marlins made quick work of the Montclair at bat with three consecutive outs.
Noah Burton's sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the second inning pushed
Marcell Whitfield to second and
Josh Goodrich to third.
Clay Clarke walked, which loaded the bases. All players managed to advance off a wild pitch, which sent
Josh Goodrich home to tie the game at 1-1.
At the top of the third, the Red Hawks grabbed two runs to extend their lead to 3-1.
Gino Meienschein scored off a wild pitch, and then
Ty James scored off a fielder's choice to tie the game at 3-3.
After two scoreless innings,
Edgar Harwood singled to right field, and
John Bastiaans hit a two-run homer to put the Marlins ahead 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
Montclair tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the seventh, but the Marlins were quick to regain control.
Josh Goodrich singled through the left side, and was followed by
Marcell Whitfield who singled down the left field line. Both Goodrich and Whitfield advanced in two passed ball scenarios, and Goodrich scored to put VWU up 6-5.
Noah Burton and
Clay Clarke walked, loading all the bases for
John Bastiaans who scored his second home run of the day, this time a Grand Slam giving the Marlins a 10-5 lead.
In the top of the 8th inning, the Red Hawks homered to close the gap to 10-8 and then scored two runs more to tie the game once again at 10-10. The Marlins scored at the bottom of the eighth as
John Stilwell advanced to third on an error and then made it home on a throwing error to give the Marlins a lead of 11-10.
Montclair managed to tie the game at 11-11 in the top of the ninth, and the Marlins were unable to score, forcing a tenth inning.
The Red Hawks scored at the top of the tenth inning to lead 12-11. With pressure building,
Noah Burton singled through the left side to start the bottom of the tenth for the Marlins, but the next three batters were unable to convert. After nearly four hours of play, Montclair State seized the 12-11 victory.
Next, the Marlins will face Salisbury University at home at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5.
