The Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team (16-13, 7-6 ODAC) as they swept ODAC opponent Eastern Mennonite 14-2 in game one and 7-3 in game two.
Game One:
Bryant led the offense with a three-hit, four-RBI performance, while Jones and Valentin each recorded multiple hits. On the mound, Brandon Drewry was in command all afternoon, tossing a complete game while allowing just one earned run and keeping the Royals off balance throughout.
Virginia Wesleyan wasted no time taking control in game one, cruising to a 14-2 victory behind a powerful offensive performance and a complete-game effort on the mound.
The Marlins struck first with a three-run opening inning. Ty James delivered an RBI double before Nick Valentin and Marcell Whitfield each brought home runs on sacrifice flies to quickly build a 3-0 lead.
After Eastern Mennonite answered with a run in the bottom half, Wesleyan responded in the third inning with four more runs. Nathan Bryant highlighted the frame with a two-run single, while Darius Walston and Bryce Folmar each drove in runs to extend the advantage to 7-1.
The Marlins put the game completely out of reach in the fifth inning, erupting for seven runs on six hits. Joshua Jones and Valentin each added RBIs, Whitfield lifted another sacrifice fly, and Bryant capped the inning with a two-run single to make it 14-1.
Game Two:
Gino Meienschein and Tassone each collected two hits to support the offense. On the mound, Chase Depalma delivered a strong seven-inning start, while Mason Sylvest shut the door over the final two innings to secure the win.
Virginia Wesleyan had to battle in game two, but timely hitting and a clutch swing from Nick Valentin secured a 7-3 victory and the doubleheader sweep.
Eastern Mennonite jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, putting the Marlins on their heels early. Wesleyan chipped away in the second, as Reynaldo Perez Mendez delivered an RBI double to cut the deficit in half.
The Marlins evened the score in the fourth inning when James Tassone lined an RBI single, setting up a tight contest heading into the later innings.
The breakthrough came in the seventh. With two runners on, Valentin launched a three-run home run to left field, flipping the momentum and giving Wesleyan a 5-2 lead.
After Eastern Mennonite added a run in the eighth, the Marlins responded once again in the ninth. Valentin came through with a two-run single, finishing an outstanding game with five RBIs.
