The Basics
Score: Roanoke 11, VA Wesleyan 9
Records: Maroons 22-13, 13-5 ODAC; Marlins 5-26-1, 4-13-1 ODAC
Location: Virginia Beach, Va.

The Lead: The Roanoke baseball team staved off three comeback attempts from Virginia Wesleyan on Sunday in an 11-9 victory in game one of the ODAC doubleheader. A big start led the Maroons to the sweep with an 8-5 win in game two against the Marlins.

Highlights:

• It was a quick start for the Maroons as Mason Staz hit a home run in the top of the first inning to put the Maroons ahead 1-0. Three straight walks in the top of the third would allow Jacob Bonzon to score on a wild pitch giving the Maroons a 2-0 lead. 
• Brody Langlotz hit a top in the top of the fourth and would come around to score on a Caleb Grizzard sacrifice fly. A Jonny Wall home run in the top of the fifth put the Maroons ahead 4-0. However, the Marlins would hit a grand slam in the bottom of the inning to pull even after five. 
• The sixth inning saw the Maroons retake the lead on pair of runs, scored by Langlotz and Grizzard. VWU would answer back with single runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to tie the score up for a second time at 6-6. 
• Roanoke opened up the game in the top of the eighth inning. With one out, Bonzon started three straight hits for the Maroons as both M. Staz and Wall followed up with singles, the last one Bonzon scored on. A walk to Conner Butler loaded the bases before Owen Lawn launched a grand slam of his own, giving Roanoke a 11-6 lead.
• The Marlins would score two in the bottom of the eighth and one in the bottom of the ninth, but the Maroons' defense held on for the 11-9 win.
• Aiden Kuhle earned his second win of the season in relief while Alex Markus picked up his third save.

Score: Roanoke 8, VA Wesleyan 5
Records: Maroons 23-13, 13-5 ODAC; Marlins 5-27-1, 4-14-1 ODAC

Highlights:

• Once again it was a quick start for the Maroons four hits in the top of the first including doubles by M. Staz and Butler that ended up with Roanoke scoring four runs, putting Roanoke on top 4-0 after just one.
• M. Staz led off the top of the second with a singled and would come around and score when Wall hit a double. Butler immediately followed up with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Wall and put the Maroons ahead 6-0. 
• The Marlins would score three in the bottom of the third and two in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Roanoke lead down to one at 6-5 after five complete.
• Carson McCusker came in to pinch hit for Noah Basham in the top of the eighth and led off with a triple to right and would score off a Bonzon double to right. Bonzon would then score off a passed ball, giving Roanoke the 8-5 lead that they would keep for the win. 
• Mason Roy earned his first win in relief with four strikeouts while Owen Ledford picked up his first save.

Up next: Roanoke returns home on Tuesday, April 25 when it hosts Guilford in a single ODAC game at Salem Memorial Ballpark. First pitch with the Quakers is scheduled for 6 p.m.