VIRGINIA BEACH -- Impressive pitching efforts highlighted a weekend of baseball for Virginia Wesleyan College, but victories continue to elude the Marlins.

Sophomore Dylan Skoskus (Ashburn/Arlington) struck out eight batters and had a 3-2 lead after six innings Sunday, before Neumann University's Knights put up a three-run seventh inning to take a 5-3 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Marlins Field.

In game two junior Brooks Kirby (Warwickshire, England/Cobham) stepped onto the mound in relief in the first inning and proceeded to scatter five hits in seven innings, but the Knights from Pennsylvania swept the day with a 4-0 decision.

On Friday, sophomore Reed Duffer (Keysville/Randolph Henry) fanned two batters in six innings and was riding a 5-1 VWC lead before the Eagles of Division II's Post University of Connecticut produced a five-run final inning to take a 6-5 win at Marlins Field.

Post (3-0) took advantage of Marlin relief pitchers Kevin Jeff (Virgina Beach/Cairo American, Egypt) and Wes Carmichael (Manteo, N.C./Manteo), producing the five run inning with the help of two walks, a batter hit by a pitch, a Marlin error and three hits, including a lead-off double by Julien Casaubon (Jiolette, Quebec City/Barthelemy-Joliette).

Virginia Wesleyan (2-7) outhit the Eagles 9-8, led by senior Kenny Belgrave (Norfolk/Granby) who was 3-for-4, ripping a pair of doubles and driving in three runs.  He belted his first double in the first inning, scoring two runners as the Marlins took a 3-0 lead.  His second double happened in the fifth inning when he drove in another run, helping VWC to establish its 5-1 advantage. 

Sophomore Jordan Miller (Chesapeake/Grassfield) also doubled for the Marlins in a two-hit day. Brett Sutryk (Bath, N.Y./Haverling) also had two hits.

JJ Cormier (Hialeah, Fla./University) homered for Post, which also had two hits from Billy Gonzaelz (Ponce, Puerto Rico/Puerto Rico Baseball Academy). Phil Sirois (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) took the pitching win after 2.1 innings of relief, striking out one and allowing just two hits.  John Jeanes (Hatchechubbee, Ala./Russell County) started and worked 4.2 innings.

On Sunday, Neumann (4-0) took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth when Virginia Wesleyan posted three runs to jump in front with the help of doubles by senior Billy Crowe (Bath, N.Y./Haverling) and Jordan Miller.

But, Newman came back with its own three-run spurt in the top of the seventh to take the lead for good. Dave Kalash (Jackson, N.J./Jackson) led off the inning with a double and Bill Pace (Boothwyn, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) belted a two-run single.

Erik Klimoff (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) took the pitching win after 2.2 relief innings.  He struck out four and gave up nothing. Jake Yarber (Denton, Md./North Caroline) picked up the save. Russ Gilliam (Brick, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) started and struck out seven batters in 5.1 innings.

Neumann outhit VWC 8-5, led by Joey Armata (Philadelphia/Neumann-Goretti) with a solo homer and a single.  Jordan Miller and Crowe led Virginia Wesleyan with a double each.

Virginia Wesleyan also came up with five hits in the second game, led by Sutryk with a pair of singles.  Pace knocked out three singles to lead Neumann, which scored twice in the first inning, once in the second and tacked on another run in the top of the last inning.

Mike Dicken (Deptford, N.J./Deptford) was the winning pitcher, working all seven innings, scattering five hits and one walk, while striking out five.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Tuesday, Feb. 26, playing at Greensboro College at 3 p.m.

--AMDG--