TYSON, Va. - Senior
Johnny Bruno blasted a three-run homer over the left-field wall just four batters into the 2026 season and used a solid performance on the hill from the quartet of
Austin Buzza,
Nolan Ross,
Ben Myers and
Charlie Bien to pick up a season opening 7-3 win over Randolph-Macon College at Capital One Park on Monday afternoon.
Game Information
Final Score - DEVILS 7, Yellow Jackets 3
Records - DEVILS 1-0 | Randolph-Macon 0-1
Pitching Decision - W -
Austin Buzza (1-0) | L - William Wian (0-1)
Inside the Game
- Dickinson wasted little time getting to RMC starting pitcher William Wian as singles for Dylan Posencheg and Kevin Schmidt set the stage for Johnny Bruno to launch a three-run homer to make it 3-0 through just a half an inning. Austin Buzza was handed the ball to start the game and ran into a little bit of trouble with an error, walk and hit batter loading the bags with one away for the Jackets. However, a strikeout of Zach Wernoski and groundout by Justin Lanouette ended the threat.
- Both teams were able to pitch around runners in the second as well as the third to hold the score at 3-0 entering the fourth inning.
- Walks to Luke Gartland and Ryan O'Connor gave the Red and White two runners with one down in the top of the fourth, but lineouts by JD Stemhagen and Josh Markley sent the game to the home half. That would be when first-year Nolan Ross made his debut on the hill and faced five batters in the frame recording a groundout, strikeout and fly out.
- With two away during the top of the fifth, free passes to Kyle Bailey and Gartland along with Schmidt being plunked by a pitch filled the cushions for Ethan Sodl. He would reached on a fielder's choice that plated one, before O'Connor was hit to drive in one and Stemhagen provided his first DC RBI with an infield single extending the lead to 6-0 after four and a half. Ross returned to the hill and retired three of four batters as a double for Wernoski was left stranded on base. He would then end his day with a flourish in the ensuing frame getting back-to-back strikeouts of Caleb Hawton-Henley and James Baffone to end the sixth.
- Dickinson would get a leadoff walk from Gartland to start the seventh against Malachi Paschal, but then a pop-up by Sodl and a double-play hit into by O'Connor prevented any damage. Ben Myers went to the bump for the Devils in the bottom portion and posted two strikeouts to go along with a popout to close the frame.
- After a scoreless top-half, the home team went to work using a walk and single to put two on with one out, before Baffone and Stolze produced RBI singles making it 6-2. Following a flyout for Schmitt, Mason Bodner notched an RBI knock to center cutting it to 6-3 prior to getting thrown out trying to advance to second.
- The Red and White pushed it to 7-3 in the final inning thanks to a double by Schmidt and RBI single from Bailey. Charlie Bien took to the mound looking to finish off the game and using two strikeouts coupled with a popout he did just that. Â
Devils Hitting Leaders
- Hits - Schmidt (3), Bailey and Posencheg (2)
- RBIs - Bruno (3)
- Doubles - Schmidt (1)
- Home Run - Bruno (1)
Devils Mound Report
- Buzza (W) - 3.0 ip, 0 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
- Ross - 3.0 ip, 0 runs, 2 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts
- Myers - 2.0 ip, 3 runs (earned), 5 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
- Bien - 1.0 ip, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
On Deck
- Dickinson (1-0) will head down to Washington, D.C. for three games this weekend. First on Friday, the Red and White will battle Stevens Institute of Technology at 3pm, before taking on Salve Regina on Saturday and the host Cardinals on Sunday. All games will be at Talbot Field on the campus of Catholic University.
