UMW Baseball Tops Johnson & Wales, 10-6, for Second Straight Win

UMW Baseball Tops Johnson & Wales, 10-6, for Second Straight Win

The University of Mary Washington baseball team defeated Johnson & Wales University, 10-6, on Sunday at Dickinson Stadium to improve to 5-4 on the season.

Johnson and Wales opened with a pair of runs in the first. After an error, the Wilcats scored on a double and a single to push ahead. The Eagles came right back with three in the first. Kevin France reached on a passed ball third strike, and stole second, before scoring on a Ramsis Ruiz triple. With one out, David Slupek provided a sacrifice fly to score Ruiz. Nicholas Bass followed with a single, and moved to third on a single from Taylor Ray. Garrett Lyons walked to load the bases, and Zavier Webb walked to plate another run.

The Wildcats tied the score in the third with a run, but UMW came back once again with three in the bottom of the frame. Slupek led off with a single and scored on a two-run homer from Bass, his first of the season. Ray singled and Lyons was hit by a pitch, and on an attempted double steal, an errant throw allowed Ray to come around and score.

The Eagles added two in the fourth, as Hague walked and went to third on a double from Slupek. Hague scored on a single by Bass, and Slupek scored on a single by Ray.

The Wildcats scored one in the fifth and two in the seventh to draw to within 8-6. In the eighth, the Eagles answered with three straight singles, from Slupek, Bass, and Ray. Bass and Ray moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, and Bass would score on a sacrifice fly from Webb to up the score to 10-6.

The middle of the Eagle order thrived on the day, as Slupek, Bass, and Ray all collected four hits. Ray came on to close out the game, retiring the three hitters he faced in the ninth. Cole Gabriele gained the win, allowing two earned runs on five hits in five innings, with three walks and eight strikeouts.

The Eagles will return to action on Wednesday when they visit Averett University at 2:00 p.m.