North Carolina Wesleyan scored at least one run in seven of the first eight innings, breaking an early 2-2 tie to pull away for a 15-6 USA South baseball victory over host Mary Baldwin Friday.

NCWU, led by a pair of two-run homers by Jackson Hobbs, scored three runs in the third inning to build a 6-2 lead, then added four runs in the fifth to gain a comfortable 10-3 lead.  The Fighting Squirrels closed to within 11-6 with three runs in the sixth inning on three hits and three walks, highlighted by a Michael Muller RBI base hit and a Will Earnesty sacrifice fly.  The Battling Bishops finished the scoring with two runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

Jacob Barber led MBU's attack with a triple, three walks, a run scored and two RBI while Muller also had a hit, run scored and three walks and Tyler Smith added two of MBU's eight hits.  

MBU and NCWU will play a doubleheader Saturday at Shifflett Field in Grottoes, Va., beginning at noon.  Prior to the first game, the Fighting Squirrels will honor their 10 seniors.  Between games, MBU will recognize players from the Fighting' Squirrels 2019-20 season, which was cut short after the 11th game because of the Covid pandemic.