The Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team (8-17, 4-13 ODAC) fell to No. 3 Lynchburg 7-3.
Nathan Bryant led VWU going 3-for-3 and scored one run,
Nick Valentin went 2-for-4 with a triple, and
Owen Mathews was 1-for-4 and scored two runs.
Aaron Jackson recorded the loss as he pitched 2.0 innings, allowed four hits, three runs, and three strikeouts
Brandon Drewry pitched well in relief as he went 3.0 innings, allowed one hit, no runs, and registered one strikeout.
The Hornets got on the board first in the second inning as they scored three runs. VWU responded in the top of the third as Nate Bryant got things started with a single up the middle, putting a runner aboard with no outs.
Keegan Megaro followed with a single to left center, pushing Mathews to second. The momentum continued when
Nick Valentin delivered a base hit to right, loading the bases with just one out. After
John Bastiaans went down swinging for the second out,
Clay Clarke worked a clutch bases-loaded walk, bringing Mathews home and getting the Marlins on the scoreboard.
Lynchburg continued its good run on play and scored one run in the third and fourth inning to lead 5-1.
In the seventh inning, Virginia Wesleyan gained momentum with a rally as Bryant once again sparked the offense with a single to center. Mathews followed with a single of his own, this time to shortstop, pushing Bryant to second. A textbook sacrifice bunt by Megaro moved both runners into scoring position, putting the pressure squarely on Lynchburg's bullpen. Valentin drew a walk to load the bases again, prompting a pitching change. Mooring recorded a big strikeout against Bastiaans for the second out, but a critical defensive miscue proved costly.
Clay Clarke reached on a fielder's choice, and a fielding error by the second baseman allowed two unearned runs to score as both Bryant and Mathews crossed the plate, narrowing the deficit to 5-3.
In the bottom of the eighth with the score holding strong at 5-3, LYN added two more runs to give them a 7-3 lead and seal the win for Lynchburg.
