The Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team (17-13, 7-6 ODAC) delivered a thrilling finish on Monday afternoon, rallying in the bottom of the ninth to secure a dramatic 10-9 victory over Regent.
Whitfield led the offensive effort with three hits and three RBI, while Valentin scored three times and added two hits. Bryce Folmar chipped in with a pair of hits and an RBI, and the Marlins drew 12 walks as a team to keep constant pressure on Regent pitching.
Out of the bullpen, Jason Caccavaro picked up the win after recording the final outs in the top of the ninth, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
After falling behind early, Virginia Wesleyan responded in a big way in the third inning. Nick Valentin singled to start the rally and later came around to score on a Bryce Folmar RBI single through the left side, tying the game at 1-1.
Virginia Wesleyan broke the game open in the third. After Gino Meienschein and Valentin reached base, Marcell Whitfield delivered a clutch two-RBI single to give the Marlins the lead. Later in the inning, Darius Walston singled home another run, and Matthew Smith followed with an RBI knock of his own to cap a four-run frame and build a 5-1 advantage.
The Marlins added to their lead in the sixth inning. Meienschein worked a walk and Valentin was hit by a pitch to set the table, and Whitfield came through again with an RBI single to make it 6-4. Moments later, a wild pitch allowed another run to cross the plate, extending the lead to 7-4.
After Regent scored five runs in the top of the ninth to take a 9-7 lead, the Marlins mounted one final rally in the bottom half. Ty James led off with a bunt single and was replaced by a pinch runner who came around to score when Valentin ripped a double to left field, cutting the deficit to 9-8. A walk kept the inning alive before Reynaldo Perez Mendez delivered the biggest swing of the day, lacing a two-RBI double into the gap in left-center to bring home both the tying and winning runs and complete the comeback.
