The University of Mary Washington baseball team dropped its 2018 season opener with a 10-5 loss at Virginia Wesleyan College on Tuesday afternoon in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Wesleyan got on the scoreboard with five runs in the second after a scoreless first, and added four more runs in the third. The Eagles cut into the deficit in the fourth, with a pair of runs. Ramsis Ruiz led off with a double through the left side, and advanced to third on a single by Stephen Johnston. After Johnston advanced to second on a wild pitch, both runners advanced on a passed ball. Johnston would score on an RBI single from Nicholas Bass.
Virginia Wesleyan added a run in the sixth before the Eagles scored three times in the ninth. With one out, Johnston singled, and advanced to third on an error hit by David Slupek. Bass provided another RBI single, and Garrett Lyons followed with another run-scoring single. Sophomore Mason Riser capped the scoring by following with another run producing hit.
Johnston and Bass led the way with two hits each for the Eagles, with Bass adding a run and two RBI and Johnston a pair of runs scored.
Cole Gabrielle absorbed the loss for the Eagles, allowing nine runs on seven hits in three innings, walking five and striking out three. Robert Cross allowed one run on one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in three innings of relief, and Jonathan Truba finished with two innings of no-run, one-hit relief, with three walks and three strikeouts.
The Eagles will return home on Thursday for their home debut, against the College of New Rochelle against 1:00 p.m.