Virginia Wesleyan had a short stay in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference baseball tourney, losing 8-3 and 13-6 to Roanoke in a best-of-three quarterfinal series Friday in Pulaski.
The seventh-seeded Marlins finished 20-19. The second-seeded Maroons (24-18) and the other three quarterfinal series winners will advance to a four-team, double-elimination championship showdown starting Thursday in Northern Virginia.
In Game 1, trailing 3-1, Roanoke went ahead to stay with a three-run fourth inning, capped by Parker Stallard’s two-run homer. Cayden Freels doubled home two runs in the fifth to expand the lead to 6-3.
VWU’s Thomas Crandall, Michael Burton Jr. and Samuel Kasprow each had two hits and scored.
In Game 2, the Marlins led 6-3, thanks in large part to Micah Fox’s grand slam, but surrendered 10 consecutive runs, including eight in the fifth. Roanoke’s Hayden Giordano had a pair of two-run singles, Kyle Moshier scored three runs and Nate Prince had three hits.
John Bastiaans led VWU by going 3 for 4 with a double, one run and one RBI, and Thomas Crandall went 2 for 5 and scored a run.
VWU’s Jack McDowell pitched four innings, allowed eight hits and five runs and had four strikeouts. Nick Beatty took the loss.
Texas State 18, Old Dominion 4: The Bobcats (23-24, 9-13 Sun Belt) scored seven runs in the second inning to overwhelm the Monarchs (24-20, 11-11) in a series opener in San Marcos.
Freshman TJ Aiken’s leadoff home run gave ODU its only lead. Maverick Stallings hit a two-run homer in the fourth.
Monarchs starter Jay Cassady (0-3) took the loss after allowing six runs on three hits and three walks.
Texas State’s Kameron Weil, Aaron Lugo and Ryne Farber drove in three runs each. Weil and Lugo scored three each, as did Alec Patino.
The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday in an effort to avoid inclement weather expected Sunday. The first game will start at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, with the second game scheduled for 7:15.
Elon 8-9, William & Mary 3-8: The Phoenix (19-26, 8-12 Coastal Athletic Association) swept a doubleheader against the Tribe (26-21, 9-11) in North Carolina, harming W&M’s hopes of qualifying for the conference tournament.
In Game 1, the Phoenix led 3-1 before all but sealing their victory with a five-run eighth inning. Charlie Granatelli was 2 for 5 with a run and two RBIs, and former Tribe player Tank Yaghoubi was 3 for 3 with three runs and an RBI for Elon. Phoenix starter Justin Mitrovich (4-5) held W&M to two hits and two walks in six shutout innings.
Anthony Greco homered for W&M, and Nate Knowles (6-2) took the loss despite giving up just one run and five hits in five innings.
In Game 2, W&M fell behind 9-4, scored four runs in the eighth but couldn’t catch up.
Christian Rush and Kevin Francella each had two hits and two RBIs for the Tribe. Yaghoubi was 2 for 4 with a run and two RBIs, and Elon’s James Broderick was 2 for 3 with a homer, three runs and two RBIs.
Zack Potts (6-4) gave up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings for the loss.
The Tribe is among a cluster of squads fighting for the last three spots in the six-team conference tournament. W&M entered Saturday’s play tied with Monmouth for seventh, a half-game behind Hofstra.
Fairleigh Dickinson 11-28, Norfolk State 1-5: The Spartans (11-34, 6-20 Northeast Conference) endured a tough day in a home doubleheader, including a 14-run eighth inning by the Knights (17-27, 12-13) in Game 2.
FDU won the opener as left-hander Patrick Gardner (5-2) struck out 12 in seven innings, limiting NSU to four hits and a walk.
In that game, Hunter D’Amato was 4 for 5 with three runs and two RBIs. Justin Sierra scored three runs, and he and Joan Sosa drove in two runs apiece.
Jamal Ritter scored NSU’s run and was one of five Spartans with a hit. Dalton Barham took the loss, giving up six runs (five earned) and nine hits in five innings.
In the nightcap, Brian Sanders was 5 for 7 with six RBIs and two runs. He was one of seven Knights with at least two RBIs, and FDU had 24 hits. NSU’s Justin Journette and Brendan Burke belted home runs.
Apprentice 11, Virginia State 1: The Builders (37-8) earned their way into the championship round of the New South Athletic Conference Tournament at Historic Fleming Stadium in Wilson, North Carolina.
Top-seeded Apprentice eliminated second-seeded VSU and will face the Lighthouse Christian Makos, the lowest seed in the four-team field, at noon Saturday for the title. The Builders will need two victories over Lighthouse (5-27) for the crown. Win or lose, Apprentice seems certain of a berth in the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association Small College World Series.
