The 29th ranked University of Mary Washington baseball team opened the 2016 season with a doubleheader sweep over Maine-Presque Isle on Friday. Scores were 8-2 and 15-0.
In the opener, the Eagles jumped on top quickly, soring six runs in the first. After a James Keller leadoff double, Mitch Moynihan walked. David Slupek followed with an RBI single, and James Sink bunted to load the bases. Nikolai Ellis connected for a two-run single, and Cody Beacorn was hit by a pitch. James Keller doubled to clear the bases, and up the Eagles' lead to 6-0.
UMW scored two more in the second, as Moynihan walked and scored on a Slupek triple. Sink followed with a sacrifice fly. Presque Isle scored a pair of unearned runs in the seventh.
Slupek singled and tripled, scoring twice and driving in two, while Ellis singled twice, soring once and driving in two. Weaver singled and doubled, plating three runs.
Junior Gabe Togna pitched three one-hit innings in the start, walking four and fanning five. Senior Bernie Mayflower followed with four four-hit innings, walking none and striking out four.
In game two, UMW scored twice in the first, as Keller walked and scored on a Tim Perry RBI double. After a wild pitch, Perry scored on a groundout. The Eagles added three in the second, as Stephen Johnston and Cody Beacorn walked and advanced on a passed ball. Weaver walked to fill the bases, and Perry walked to score one run. Moynihan followed with a two-run single, raising the lead to 5-0.
In the third, Sink singled and stole second, and moved to third on a ground out. Beacorn singled to shortstop, and moved to third while Sink scored on a throwing error. Tyler Truslow grounded out to score Beacorn.
UMW scored three in the fourth, as Keller and Perry doubled, and Perry scored on a groundout. Sink singled and stole second, and scored on a Johnston single. In the fifth, the Eagles added two more, as Moynihan singled to score Ramsis Ruiz, and Brian Burns scored on a wild pitch.
UMW added three runs on two hits in the sixth, as Jose Moreno drove in two with a double and scored on a Burns fielder's choice.
Perry had two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBI, while Moynihan added two hits and three RBI. Moreno had two hits and two RBI, and Sink had two hits and two runs scored.
Senior Wes Gholson pitched five innings and gave up two hits in gaining the win, walking none and striking out six. Andrew Slupek pithed two innings of hitless relief, striking out five.
The Eagles will be back in action on Saturday as they host Penn State Altoona at noon for a doubleheader.