LEXINGTON, Va. - The Washington and Lee University baseball team rallied back from a four-run deficit to claim the opening series as they knocked off Centenary University (N.J.) 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at Cap'n Dick Smith Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Paul Ramseur belted an RBI double off the right field fence to give the Generals (2-1) their first and final lead of the afternoon, securing a 5-4 win over the Cyclones (1-2).
- After starting pitcher Matt Fleming got two quick outs in the top of the first inning, Marty Lucibello reached first on an error while Nick Payne moved up to third after being hit by a pitch the previous at-bat. Lucibello got caught in a run down but Payne was able to score to give the Cyclones a one run lead.
- Matt Perine kicked off the second inning with a single down the left field line before Brandon Smith advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Perine came across to score as Chase Johnson ripped a single into right field.
- In the top of the third, Dominick Chiego put himself in scoring position after roping a double into left field. Lucibello drove him in the next at-bat, singling through the middle of the infield to put the Cyclones up 3-0.
- Ben Wechsler came into pitch for Fleming in the top of the fifth and after getting a quick ground out, Myles Castillo found the right center gap and sprinted around the bases for a stand up triple. Chiego would drive him in one batter later on a single to right center, giving the Cyclones a four-run lead.
- Jonathan French got the bottom of the fifth off to a good start as he ripped a double down the left field line to put himself in scoring position. After French advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt from Jake Keenan, Ramseur hit a towering fly ball over the center fielder's head for an RBI triple.
- Jacob Jackson drove in Ramseur on a single through the left side of the infield to cut the Centenary lead to two.
- Ethan Zulueta and Nick Lagges successfully completed a double steal to put runners on second and third. French was hit by a pitch his next at-bat, loading the bases for pinch hitting Jack Belbot. Belbot popped up to the shortstop but Ramseur was also plunked in his next at-bat, bringing the score to 4-3 in favor of the Cyclones.
- Brody Pasieka relieved Wechsler in the 7th inning and posted a 1-2-3 frame with two strikeouts. The Generals would tie the game at four in the bottom of the frame as Campbell Charneco scored after Andrew Thornton grounded out to the pitcher.
- After another 1-2-3 inning from Pasieka, French got the bottom of the eighth off to a good start as he singled to center field. French moved up to second following a sacrifice bunt from Turner before Ramseur recorded his third hit of the day with an RBI double to right field to give the Generals a 5-4 win.
W&L GAME NOTES
- Despite being out hit 26-20 this weekend, the Generals claimed games two and three to win their 2024 opening series.
- W&L recorded eight hits this afternoon, scoring in four straight innings to secure a come from behind win. Half of the Generals hits were extra base hits as they hit three doubles and one triple.
- The Blue and White swiped three bags this afternoon as Ramseur, Lagges, and Zulueta each stole one base.
- Paul Ramseur led the Generals offense with a 3-for-3 day at the plate, falling just a home run short of the cycle. The Sophomore drove in two runs this afternoon while also drawing a walk.
- First-year Jonathan French was 2-of-3 in his debut with a single and a double.
- Sophomore Brody Paiseka (1-0) earned his first win of the season on the mound as he tossed three shutout innings, only allowing one hit and striking out three batters.
CENTENARY (N.J.) GAME NOTES
- The Cyclones fell to 1-2 on the young season, generating seven hits on offense this afternoon.
- Myles Castillo, Dominick Chiego, Nick Payne and Matt Perine each recorded one hit in the contest.
- Starting pitcher Jake Keenan earned a quality start after pitching six innings with one earned run, he allowed six hits while striking out five batters.
- Anthony Fraser fell to 0-1 on the season as he pitched one innings, giving up two hits and the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.
UP NEXT
- The Generals are back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 20 for a 4 p.m. match up with Southern Virginia University at Cap'n Dick Smith Field.