LEXINGTON, Va. – The baseball team (1-2) pieced together a complete baseball game with timely hitting and a great pitching performance from junior Mark Wilson (Peterbourogh, Ont.) to earn its first win of the season, 7-3 at VMI (4-2), Friday. Wilson struck out a career-high 12 batters in 8.0 innings of work to improve to 1-1 on the season.

"Wilson did an outstanding job for us," head coach Chris Chernisky said. "He had command of all three of his pitches and didn’t face a three-ball count all game. He kept (VMI) off balance with his repetoire of pitches."

The Purple Eagles hit two home runs, manufactured runs, and pieced together two-out rallies to score their most runs (8) and most hits (13) of the early season. Senior Brian Clifford (Buffalo, N.Y./Bishop Timon) and junior Chris Leendertse (Ancaster, Ont.) each had a home run, two hits and a pair of RBI in the win.

Niagara jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first two innings, and that’s all the cushion Wlilson would need. The hurler stuck out the side in the bottom of the first and sixth innings.

Junior Andrew Macdonald (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) also had two RBI and was among nine batters with a base hit. Junior Tim Alberts (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) extended his hitting streak to 25 games with a third-inning single.

Junior Frank Kurnik (Reno, Nev.) finished the day with his first two-hit performance as a Purple Eagle, including a double. Freshman Jason Cramer (Jackson, N.J.) came off the bench to record his first two hits of his career.

The Purple Eagles continue their three-game series against the Keydets, Saturday, at 2 p.m.