The bats came alive early and often for the Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team (12-11, 3-5 ODAC) rolled to a commanding 13-2 victory over Johnson & Wales Charlotte. After briefly trailing, VWU responded with relentless offensive pressure, scoring in four different innings and putting the game out of reach by the middle frames.
On the mound, Chase Depalma earned the win with two scoreless innings in relief, while the bullpen combined to limit Johnson & Wales to just two runs on seven hits.
Offensively, Joshua Jones led the way with four RBI, while Gino Meienschein added three hits and two RBI. Perez Mendez chipped in multiple extra-base hits and an RBI, and the Marlins capitalized on seven walks and three hit batters to keep constant pressure on the Wildcats' pitching staff.
Johnson & Wales struck first in the top of the first, capitalizing on a leadoff double and a Virginia Wesleyan error to take a 1-0 lead. That would be their only advantage of the day.
The Marlins wasted no time responding in the bottom half. After a leadoff walk by Nick Valentin and a double from Marcell Whitfield put two runners in scoring position, Joshua Jones delivered a clutch two-RBI single to give VWU a 2-1 lead. Moments later, a wild pitch allowed Gino Meienschein to score, extending the lead to 3-1. The pressure continued as Reynaldo Perez Mendez swiped third and came home on a throwing error, capping a four-run inning and giving the Marlins a 4-1 advantage after one.
Virginia Wesleyan added to the lead in the third inning without recording a hit. With the bases loaded, a passed ball allowed Ryan Dobrinsky to score, pushing the lead to 5-1.
The game broke wide open in the fourth inning with a six-run outburst. Meienschein started things with a single, followed by a base hit from Israel Dozier. A fielding error allowed Joshua Jones to reach while driving in two runs, making it 7-1. Dobrsinsky then reached on another defensive miscue, bringing home Jones to extend the lead to 8-1. Perez Mendez followed with an RBI double to push it to 9-1.
After loading the bases again, Gino Meienschein came through with a two-RBI single to plate Darius Walston and James Tassone, capping the inning with an 11-1 Marlins lead.
Virginia Wesleyan kept the momentum rolling in the fifth. Joshua Jones tripled to open the inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Dobrinsky, making it 12-1. Shortly after, Landon Carraway delivered an RBI single to score Perez Mendez and extend the lead to 13-1.
Johnson & Wales added a run in the seventh on an RBI groundout, but the outcome was long decided as the Marlins secured the 13-2 victory.
