The Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team (11-10, 3-5 ODAC) put together a strong offensive showing, defeating Hampden-Sydney 8-4 at home.
On the mound, Jacob Lawrence started and tossed 3.1 innings while allowing just one run. Will Payne came in relief and pitched 3.2 innings to earn the win, he allowed one hit, one run, and had two strikeouts. The bullpen combination of Mason Sylvest and Chase Depalma helped secure the victory, limiting Hampden-Sydney to three runs over the final innings.
Offensively, Meienschein led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, driving in two runs and scoring three times. Whitfield also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Bryant added two RBIs of his own. Nick Valentin contributed two hits and scored twice as part of the Marlins' 12-hit attack.
In the bottom of the third, Bryce Folmar was hit by a pitch to start the rally, and Darius Walston reached on an error by the pitcher, allowing Folmar to move into scoring position. Joshua Jones then put the ball in play, reaching on a fielder's choice as Walston advanced, before Nick Valentin delivered a single to right field to load the bases. After Meienschein was hit by a pitch to force in traffic on the bases, Marcell Whitfield came through with a clutch single through the right side, driving in two runs to make it 3-0. Israel Dozier followed by drawing a walk to keep the inning alive, and Nathan Bryant capped the frame with a two-run single to left field, stretching the lead to 5-0.
The Marlins kept the pressure on in the fourth inning. Darius Walston led off with a single, and Jones followed with a base hit up the middle to put two runners on. Valentin then reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Walston to move to third. Meienschein continued his strong day with an RBI single to center, scoring Walston to make it 6-1. Whitfield struck again with an RBI single through the left side, bringing home Valentin, and Dozier added another run with a single up the middle that scored Meienschein. By the end of the inning, Virginia Wesleyan had extended its lead to 8-1 and firmly taken control of the game.
