LYNCHBURG, Va. - Washington and Lee advanced to the ODAC Championship for the second straight season as the Generals defeated Hampden-Sydney, 6-5, in the 2004 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Baseball Tournament on Saturday evening at the Lynchburg City Stadium.

The Generals (20-15) scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and added two runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 5-0 lead, but saw the Tigers tie the game at 5-5 with three runs in the top of the fourth, and one run in the sixth and eighth frames.

Washington and Lee answered in the bottom of the eighth with the go ahead run.

Senior right hander Mike Wert (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) started the game for the Generals and held Hampden-Sydney to seven hits with six strikeouts before freshman Clayton Edwards (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster) took over mound duties in the eighth to secure his first victory (1-2) of the season. Senior left hander Peter Dean (Vienna, Va./James Madison) stepped in for the final two outs of the ninth inning and picked up his third save of the season.

Sophomore second baseman Scott Gosselink (Austin, Texas/St. Stephen's Episcopal) went 3-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored to lead the Generals, while Edwards hit 2-for-5 with one run scored. Freshman designated hitter Richard Garland (Fort Worth, Texas/Arlington Heights) added to the W&L offense with a home run and a game-high three RBI.

Hampden-Sydney sophomore Bryan Mangas fell to 1-4 on the season after taking over pitching duties in the second inning and giving up the go-ahead run. Junior third baseman Jonathon Vaughan led the Tigers from the plate with a 3-for-4 performance and two RBI.

The Generals look to win their first-ever ODAC Championship when they take on defending champion Virginia Wesleyan at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.

-- GENERALS --