The Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team (20-19) grabbed the early momentum but could not withstand a pivotal middle-inning surge, falling to Randolph-Macon, 14-4, in Game 1 of round one of the ODAC Championship Tournament on Saturday afternoon.
After a quiet start from both sides, the Marlins broke through in the fourth inning with a clean, situational rally. Gino Meienschein reached to begin the frame and moved into scoring position before Nick Valentin followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Reynaldo Perez Mendez executed a sacrifice bunt to bring home the game's first run, and after a wild pitch advanced Valentin to third, Ty James lined an RBI single to center to make it 2-0. The inning reflected Virginia Wesleyan's ability to manufacture runs, using timely contact and aggressive baserunning to take control.
Randolph-Macon answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning, but the game shifted dramatically in the fifth. The Yellow Jackets strung together a rally that resulted in 11 runs, turning a one-run deficit into a commanding lead.
Virginia Wesleyan responded in the sixth with another push offensively. Meienschein reached base to start the inning and Valentin continued his strong day with a double to right-center, putting two in scoring position. With two outs, Ryan Dobrinsky delivered a clutch single to right field, driving in both runners and accounting for the Marlins' final two runs of the afternoon.
Valentin led the way at the plate with a two-hit performance, including a double, while scoring twice. Meienschein also scored twice and helped ignite both scoring innings, and Dobrinsky finished with a team-high two RBI. The Marlins totaled seven hits on the day and showed an ability to generate offense in key spots despite the final margin.
On the mound, Chase Depalma made the start before Will Payne and Zach Miller saw time in relief as Virginia Wesleyan worked through the middle-inning rally.
With the loss, the Marlins will look to regroup quickly as the ODAC Championship series continues, needing a win in Game 2 to keep their title hopes alive and force a decisive third game.
