Sharks 13, Marshall 1

Phil Johnson (29) delivers in the fourth inning as Colbie Bell (1) covers at first.

A fourteen-hit offensive outburst and solid pitching propelled the Sharks to their first win of the season, a 13-1 victory over the Marshall Barristers.

Daniel Williams led off the bottom of the first with a double to the warning track in left field. After advancing to third on Geoff Roth's groundout, Williams scored on a hard grounder by Phil Johnson that was misplayed by the Marshall first baseman. After Brooks Fitch and Jason Puklus singled to load the bases, Jamie Van Soelen launched the second double of the inning, driving in Johnson and Fitch. Michael Gwyn knocked in Puklus with a grounder to short. After Stephen Williams walked, Brett Weinstock drove the first pitch off the top of the fence in left, missing a home run by two feet. Van Soelen scored and Williams moved to third. After Williams scored on an errant pickoff attempt by the Barristers' catcher, Daniel Williams got his second double of the inning to drive in Weinstock with the seventh run of the game for Malibu.

The runs kept coming in the second inning. After Johnson led off with a single to right, Fitch launched his first homerun of the year--a towering shot to left. Puklus then walked and moved to second when Van Soelen reached on an error. After Gwyn and Stephen Williams struck out, Weinstock reached on an error by the third baseman as Puklus scored. Daniel Williams then singled to drive in Van Soelen with the fourth and final run of the inning.

The Sharks scored two more runs in the third inning. Fitch hit a one-out double. Colbie Bell, running for Fitch, scored on Puklus's single to left. After Van Soelen walked and Gwyn was retired, Stephen Williams singled to left to drive in Puklus. It was Williams's first varsity hit and RBI.

Meanwhile, Johnson was pitching four shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out seven Barristers. Aaron Westine pitched the fifth and final inning, allowing one run on two hits.

The Sharks return to action on Thursday at home against Glendale. The game starts at 3:00 p.m.

Stephen Williams (44) is congratulated by Coach Ismar Ardon (26) after getting his first varsity hit.