The Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team powered past Regent University, 12-6, on Tuesday afternoon in Virginia Beach, improving to 5-3 on the season.
Gino Meienschein was 2-for-4 at bat with a double, scored three runs, and had one RBI.
Nick Valentin went 2-for-4 with a double and scored three runs.
Israel Dozier was 1-for-4 with a double, scored one run, and led the team with three RBI.
Darius Walston was 1-for-3, tallied three RBI, and stole three bases
Carl Sword recorded his first appearance and start of his career as he pitched 2.0 innings, allowed four hits, and two runs.
Sean Tracey recorded the win in relief as he pitched 1.0 innings, allowed two hits, one run, and had one strikeout.
Mason Sylvest pitched 2.0 innings, allowed one hit, and registered two strikeouts.
Regent struck first in the top of the second and added another run in the third, but the Marlins answered early and often on their way to the victory.
After Regent was retired in order, in the top half, Virginia Wesleyan wasted no time getting on the board.
Nick Valentin led off the inning with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a groundout by
Gino Meienschein.
Ty James was then hit by a pitch, putting runners on the corners.
Israel Dozier delivered the first big swing of the day, lacing a double to left center to bring home Valentin for a 1-0 lead while moving James to third. Although the Marlins left two runners on base, they claimed the early advantage.
Trailing 3-1 after Regent added a run in the third, the Marlins erupted in the fifth.
Meienschein worked a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and stole third. James followed with a walk and moved up on another wild pitch to put two runners in scoring position. Dozier drew a walk to load the bases.
Joshua Jones then put the ball in play, reaching on a fielder's choice that allowed Meienschein to score and cut the deficit to 3-2. After Jones stole second,
Darius Walston came through with a clutch single up the middle, driving in both James and Jones to give Virginia Wesleyan a 4-3 lead.
Regent evened the score in the top of the sixth, but the Marlins answered immediately.
Nick Valentin singled and stole second to spark the inning. After Meienschein was intentionally walked and James drew another free pass to load the bases, Dozier was hit by a pitch, forcing in Valentin to make it 5-4.
Jones followed with an RBI single to right field, scoring Meienschein and extending the lead to 6-4. Moments later, Walston reached on a fielder's choice that brought home James, pushing the advantage to 7-4 before the inning came to a close.
Leading 7-4, Virginia Wesleyan put the game out of reach with a five-run seventh.
Noah Burton was hit by a pitch to start the rally, and Valentin was also plunked to put two aboard. Meienschein then drilled a double to right center, scoring Burton to make it 8-4 while Valentin moved to third.
With runners on, Dozier reached on a Regent error, allowing Valentin to score. Wild pitches during the at-bat sequence brought home Meienschein and James, extending the lead to 11-4. Later in the inning, Walston stole second, and Dozier raced home on a throwing error by the catcher to cap the five-run frame and give the Marlins a commanding 12-4 lead.
Regent added two runs in the top of the ninth, but the Marlins' bullpen closed it out to secure the 12-6 win.
