LEXINGTON, Va. - The Washington and Lee University baseball team's ninth inning comeback fell short as they dropped a midweek Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) match up at Eastern Mennonite University 13-10.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Generals (10-8, 4-4 ODAC) kicked off the game with a bang as Jacob Jackson and Campbell Charneco both singled before Drew Larsen blasted a three-run home run to give the Blue and White a 3-0 lead.
- Eastern Mennonite (5-11, 2-3 ODAC) responded in the bottom half of the inning, plating two runs on a Nick Arnold double and a fielding error by the Generals.
- With the bases loaded in the 3rd inning, the Royals knotted the game at three as Ethan Spraker singled to right center field, driving in Dylan Hall. The next at-bat, Aidan Miller drove in Arnold and Alex Gulisano to give EMU a 5-3 lead. The Royals would plate two more runs in the third on ground outs to take a 7-3 lead.
- Eastern Mennonite would strike again in the fourth as Spraker drove in Arnold and Hall with a single to right center field before coming around to score on a Matthew Harding single, putting the Royals up by seven runs.
- Jackson led off the 5th inning with a single through the left side of the infield before coming around to score on a Andrew Thornton sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to six.
- Jackson would record his third hit of the game in the 7th inning as he hit a single through the middle of the infield before advancing to third on a Charneco single down the left field line. Jackson would cut the lead in half as he scored on a Larsen sacrifice fly.
- The Royals would get one back in the bottom half of the 7th as Logan Mason singled to start the inning before Gulisano drove him in on a double to center field, putting them back on top by six runs.
- The Generals had two runners on in the top of the 8th inning as Landen Rucker and Ethan Zuluetareached on a hit by pitch and a walk. John Turner drove in Rucker with a single through the left side of the infield to cut the deficit to five once again. Zulueta and Turner would both come around to score on errors by the Royals' shortstop and first baseman, bringing W&L within two runs.
- EMU would extend their lead to four in the bottom of the 8th as Miller kicked off the inning with a double before coming around to score on a McGinnis single through the left side of the infield. Drew Petitt would come around to score on a bunt single by Erik Wilkinson to put the Royals up 13-9.
- Jaden Keuhner and Zuleta led off the top of the 9th with walks before Zach Senders came in to pinch run for Keuhner. Jackson would drive in Senders on a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to three. With two outs and two runners on, Charneco looked to drive in two runs but fly out to right field to end the game.
W&L GAME NOTES
- The Generals fall to 10-8 on the season and 4-4 in conference play.
- Jacob Jackson led the offense with a 3-for-5 (.600) effort at the plate, driving in one run. Campbell Charneco, Mike Carpenter and John Turner each had two hits this afternoon. Drew Larsen had the Blue and White's lone extra base hit as he blasted a three-run home run in the first inning while driving in a team-high four runs.
- Sims DeLong (1-2) was credited with the loss after allowing nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits in his three innings of work. Raleigh Craft tossed 3.1 innings this afternoon, allowing one run on four hits.
EMU GAME NOTES
- The Royals improved to 5-11 on the season and 2-3 in ODAC play with the win.
- Miller was 3-for-5 (.600) with two RBI and two runs scored while swiping one bag. Hall, Gulisan, Arnold, Spraker, McGinnis and Harding each recorded two hits for EMU. Spraker led the Royals with three RBI while Miller, Harding and Wilkinson each drove in two runs.
- Damen Tapscott (1-1) earned his first win this season as he allowed five runs (four earned) on ten hits in his seven innings of work while striking out six batters.
UP NEXT
- The Blue and White head to the University of Lynchburg on Saturday, Mar. 23 for a conference doubleheader against the 21st-ranked Hornets. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. with game two to follow.