The University of Mary Washington baseball team split a Capital Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday with Wesley College. The Eagles (16-10, 7-2 CAC) dropped the first game of the twin bill 6-4 in extra innings but bounced back in the nightcap for a 6-1 victory.
The Eagles got off to a quick start in the first contest, notching a run in each of the first two innings, while the Wolverines (14-8, 5-4 CAC) managed to put one on the board in the third.
Wesley starter Jordan Lozzi quickly retired two batters in the bottom of the third; however, singles by Cam Kostyack and James Sink, with the help of two Wolverine errors, added two more runs on the board making the score 4-1.
The Eagles pressured Lozzi again in the fourth by loading the bases with two outs, but could not take advantage of the situation. A fielder's choice play placed Jonno Haught out at second to end the threat.
Mary Washington gave up one in the third before Eagles' starter Bernard Mayflower got into a tight spot in the fourth with two runners in scoring position and only one out. After Mayflower struck out the next batter for the second out, Matt Robles singled to deep centerfield to bring in the two runs and cut the Eagles' lead to one.
Junior right-hander Jake Black entered the game in the fifth inning to relieve Mayflower with the 4-3 lead still intact. The lead was held until the top of the seventh when Cory Smith reached on an error, scoring Robles to even the score and send the game into extras.
Wesley loaded the bases and tallied two runs in the ninth without a hit. With one out, Steve Perone reached on an error, advancing all runners and scoring Robles for what would prove to be the winning run. The Wolverines added an insurance run before the inning was over when Corey Jefferson walked with the bases loaded to bring Smith home.
Rich Lober earned the win for Wesley while allowing no hits or runs and adding two strikeouts. Black took the loss for the Eagles. Robles went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs scored, and was hit by pitches in two at-bats. Six players collected hits for the Eagles, including T.J. Cretney who also scored twice.
Mary Washington struck first again in the nightcap. Connor Lilley led off the first inning with a centerfield single and was driven home by back-to-back singles by Seth Jordan and Kostyack. The home team pounded in three more in the second with hits by Kevin Stein, Brendan Jones, and Jordan and followed it up with another score in the third and fifth innings.
The Wolverines only managed to tally one run in the seventh, allowing Mary Washington to take the weekend series 2-1.
Eagles' starter Tori Mancari pitched the complete seven inning contest and nearly had a shutout until Wesley scored with two outs in the final inning. That run came off only three hits. Mancari also struck out seven batters and had three walks. He improves to 3-4 on the season.
Mary Washington found their rhythm in the second game with 12 hits. Jordan paved the way for the Eagles' offense going 3-for-4 with one RBI. Lilley, Kostyack, and Cretney added in two runs apiece.
The Eagles return to action next Wednesday, April 3, as they travel to face Bridgewater. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.