Staunton, VA - The North Carolina Wesleyan baseball team opened its weekend series at Mary Baldwin with a dominant offensive showing, collecting eighteen hits in a 15-6 win over the Fighting Squirrels on Friday evening.

The Basics:
Score: N.C. Wesleyan 15, Mary Baldwin 6
Location/Venue: Staunton, VA / Shifflett Field
Records: N.C. Wesleyan (8-23, 7-9 USA South), Mary Baldwin (6-27, 4-12 USA South)

The Battling Bishops unleashed a relentless attack from the start, scoring in seven of the nine innings. Senior Jackson Hobbs and freshman Caleb Elias led the charge with three hits apiece and combined for three home runs and seven RBIs.

Hobbs launched a two-run homer in the top of the first to get the scoring started, then added a second blast in the fifth as part of a four-run frame. Elias drove in three runs of his own, including a two-run shot in the same inning that stretched Wesleyan's lead to 10-3.

Caleb Elias finished 4-for-5 with three RBIs, three runs, a double, and a homer, while Hobbs went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and four RBIs. Seth Jones and Jackson Ellyson also added three hits each, and Jones drove in two more to round out a potent Bishop lineup that drew twelve walks in the game.

On the mound, Marc DeNunzio earned the win, striking out eight across 5.2 innings despite working around six earned runs and six walks. Caleb Dennis came on in relief and was lights out, tossing the final 3.1 innings with seven strikeouts and just one hit allowed to seal the victory.

Wesleyan tacked on multiple insurance runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, capitalizing on free passes and timely hitting. The Bishops also turned a double play defensively and swiped a base in the victory.

Up Next:
The two teams will conclude the series on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM at Shifflett Field.