PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Washington and Lee baseball team opened the 2009 season with a 16-5 victory over Whitworth (0-1) at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Ariz.

The Generals (1-0) used a 10-run seventh inning to blow open what had been a 6-5 game and en route to its first win of the season.

Sophomore shortstop John Ditore (Seattle, Wash./Bishop Blanchet) led W&L's offense, going 5-for-6 with a double, three runs scored and three RBI. Junior first baseman Hunter Serenbetz (Stamford, Conn./Taft School) went 3-for-4 with two walks, a double and three RBI, while senior second baseman Byron Peyster (Washington, D.C./Maret) was 3-for-4 with two walks, a run scored and an RBI.

First-year outfielder Drew Dezen (Greenville, S.C./Greenville Senior) led off the Generals' big seventh inning with a double and Ditore and senior centerfielder Terrence McKelvey (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) each recorded two-run singles to make a winner of sophomore pitcher Gregg Laswell (Houston, Texas/Memorial)

Laswell, who pitched four innings in relief of junior starter Chuck Davidson (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier), allowed two hits and one run, while striking out a pair and walking one. Davidson lasted four innings, allowing four runs (all in the first inning) on six hits.

The Generals continue action on Thursday with a 3:00 pm game against Hastings.

~ Generals ~