LEXINGTON, Va. -- The Washington and Lee baseball team used a six-run third inning to break open a tight game en route to defeating Penn State-Harrisburg, 9-4, on Thursday afternoon at Cap'n Dick Smith Field.

Aided by four Nittany Lion errors in the third inning, the Generals posted six runs (five unearned) to take a commanding 7-0 lead on their way to the win. Junior shortstop John Ditore (Seattle, Wash./Bishop Blanchet) capped the inning with a two-out RBI single that scored first-year outfielders Mike Decembrino (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) and C.J. Thompson (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Nease). Thompson had an RBI single of his own in the inning and senior second baseman Byron Peyster (Washington, D.C./Maret) added a sacrifice fly.

Penn State-Harrisburg got on the board with four runs in the fifth inning off of W&L starter Roger Strong (Spencerport, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit). Junior outfielder Barry Wiestling (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) drew a bases-loaded walk for the Nittany Lions' first run. First-year outfielder T.J. Houseal (Maytown, Pa./Donegal) drove in a run with a fielder's choice and sophomore designated hitter Corey Latsha (New Cumberland, Pa./Cedar Cliff) added a two-run single to wrap up the scoring for the Nittany Lions.

Strong went 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out a pair. First-year Jody Davis (McLean, Va./Langley) relieved Strong and picked up his first collegiate win. Davis threw 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out two.

Cory Marshall started and took the loss for Penn State-Harrisburg. He allowed eight runs (three earned) on seven hits and six walks. He struck out two.

For the Generals (9-4), junior catcher Will Lewis (Columbia, S.C./A.C. Flora) was 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI, while Thompson went 3-for-4 with one run driven in. Ditore was 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and added three runs scored and two runs driven in.

Latsha finished 2-for-5 with two RBI, while junior shortstop Brett Harmony (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) and sophomore second baseman Nick Knull (Enola, Pa./Cedar Cliff) were both 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Nittany Lions.

The Generals return to action on Saturday when they host Lynchburg in an ODAC-doubleheader. Game one is set to begin at 12:00 pm.