The Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team (3-2) defeated SUNY New Paltz 8-4 on the back of good pitching from
Brandon Drewry and an offensive sixth inning.
James Tassone led the offense as he went 2-for-4 at bat, with two doubles, and tallied a team-high four RBI.
Gino Meienschein was 2-for-4, with a home run, scored one run, and had two RBI.
Nick Valentin was 1-for-2 with a homer, scored three runs, with a stolen base, and had two RBI, and teammate
Nathan Bryant was 2-for-4 with two doubles and scored a run.
Brandon Drewry pitched 6.0 innings, allowed four hits, one run, and recorded two strikeouts.
Zach Miller came in relief and pitched 2.0 innings, allowed three runs, one two hits, and had two strikeouts, and
Matthew Weber finished the game and pitched 1.0 inning, allowed zero runs, one hit, and registered one strikeout.
The Marlins opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. After
Nick Valentin worked a leadoff walk,
Nathan Bryant lined a double down the right-field line to put runners on second and third.
James Tassone then grounded out to second base, but the productive out brought Valentin home to give Virginia Wesleyan a 1-0 lead.
New Paltz evened the score with a run in the top of the sixth, setting the stage for a decisive response.
Virginia Wesleyan answered emphatically in the bottom of the sixth with a five-run surge.
Bryce Folmar sparked the inning with a single to right-center and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Weber.
Gino Meienschein crushed a two-run home run to put the Marlins back in front. Moments later,
Ty James reached on a bunt single, and
Nick Valentin followed by launching a two-run homer down the left-field line. The inning wasn't finished,
Nathan Bryant doubled to left-center, and Tassone capped the rally with an RBI double down the right-field line, extending the lead to 6-1.
New Paltz chipped away with two runs in the top of the seventh and added another in the top of the eighth, trimming the margin to 6-4.
The Marlins delivered the final blow in the bottom of the eighth. Valentin was hit by a pitch and stole second, while Isreal Dozier drew a walk. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position, and Tassone came through again, ripping a two-run double down the left-field line to plate Valentin and Dozier and push the lead to 8-4.
