BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- Bridgewater scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull out an 8-7 victory over Washington and Lee in ODAC baseball action on Wednesday afternoon in Bridgewater, Va.

The Eagles (12-4-1, 5-0) trailed 7-5 heading into the eighth inning, but tied the game on a two-run double by senior rightfielder Bryan Saunders and then Saunders scored the game-winning run on a RBI single by junior leftfielder Justin Showalter.

The Generals (13-6-1, 6-2) took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning on an RBI single by senior first baseman Taylor McConnell (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal), a fielder's choice by junior shortstop Ray Sweeney (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) and a run scoring double by senior centerfielder David Mackenzie (Vienna, Va./James Madison). Bridgewater came right back and scored three runs in the bottom of the frame to knot the score at 3-3.

W&L recaptured the lead at 7-3 with four runs in the top of the third inning, including a two-run double by McConnell. The Eagles pulled to within 7-5 with a pair of runs in the fifth frame and then took their only lead of the game at 8-7 with the three-run eighth inning.
McConnell finished 2-for-4 with a double, a run and three RBI, while Sweeney went 2-for-4 with a run and a pair of RBI. Sophomore lefthander John Parker (Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence) pitched the first 4.1 innings and allowed five earned runs on nine hits. Freshman righthander Brendan Clark (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery) gave up one earned run on two hits in 1/3 of an inning to take the loss (2-1).

Bridgewater was led at the plate by Saunders, who went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs and two RBI. Showalter also batted 2-for-5 with a double, a run and an RBI. Senior righthander Shaun Brinkley started and surrended seven runs, five earned, on eight hits in three innings. Sophomore righthander Chad Rhodes gave up one hit in 1.1 innings to pick up the win (1-0), while junior righthander Ricky Read hurled a scoreless ninth inning to earn his third save of the season.

W&L returns to the diamond on Saturday when it travels to Lynchburg for a doubleheader. The first game begins at 12:00 pm.

-- GENERALS --