The Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team (14-13, 5-6 ODAC)ran into a tough test on the road Thursday afternoon, falling to Salisbury by a 32-2 final despite early flashes of offensive promise.
The Marlins showed life right away in the top of the first, loading the bases behind a hit-by-pitch from Joshua Jones, a walk by Gino Meienschein, and a single from Marcell Whitfield. However, Salisbury worked out of the jam to keep Virginia Wesleyan off the board.
Salisbury responded with a big opening frame and never looked back, putting up seven runs in the first inning and adding nine more in the second to seize early control. The Sea Gulls continued to capitalize throughout the afternoon, stringing together hits and taking advantage of walks to extend their lead.
Virginia Wesleyan continued to battle and broke through in the fourth inning. Ryan Dobrinsky sparked the rally with a triple to right field and later scored on a wild pitch to put the Marlins on the board. Moments later, Joshua Jones delivered again with an RBI single to center, scoring Reynaldo Perez Mendez and trimming the deficit.
Jones led the offensive effort with a perfect day at the plate, collecting two hits and driving in a run. Dobrinsky also turned in a strong performance, going 2-for-2 with a triple and a run scored. PJ Chiles added a double off the bench, while Meienschein and Whitfield each chipped in hits as part of a seven-hit outing for the Marlins.
