LEXINGTON, Va. -- The Washington and Lee baseball team mounted a late ninth-inning rally, but ultimately fell, 9-7, to Stevenson on Wednesday afternoon at Cap'n Dick Smith Field.

W&L (4-8), which trailed, 9-4, entering the bottom of the ninth, climbed to within two runs (9-7) on an RBI single by first-year shortstop Jonathan Stutts (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day) and a two-run double from first-year outfielder George Youmans (Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian). However, Stevenson (10-2) escaped with the win when senior shortstop John Ditore (Seattle, Wash./Bishop Blanchet) lined into a double play to end the game.

The Generals had taken a 3-0 lead in the third inning on a solo homerun from Stutts and RBI base hits from sophomore Mike Decembrino (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) and senior designated hitter Will Lewis (Columbia, S.C./A.C. Flora).

Stevenson came back with six runs in the fifth inning, as the Mustangs sent 10 men to the plate, recorded seven hits and benefited from one W&L error. Stevenson then went up 9-3 in the sixth on a two-run double by senior shortstop Ryan Baione (Waldorf, Md./Westlake) and an RBI groundout from senior catcher George Papuchis (Damascus, Md./Good Counsel).

Stutts finished 3-for-4 with a homerun, three RBI and two runs scored. Decembrino went 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI and sophomore outfielder C.J. Thompson (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Nease) was 2-for-2 with a run scored and a stolen base.

Sophomore starter Jody Davis (McLean, Va./Langley) took the loss (1-1) for W&L as he allowed five earned runs on seven hits and one walk with one strikeout in 4.2 innings.

Junior Brandon Krochune (Baltimore, Md./Digital Harbor) earned the win (3-2) as he allowed three runs in 5.0 innings. He surrendered three runs on five hits with no walks and a pair of strikeouts.

At the plate, Stevenson was led by Baione, who finished 2-for-6 with three RBI and two runs scored, while junior second baseman Chris Maienshein (Finksburg, Md./Westminster) batted 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Krochune went 1-for-4 an RBI and a run scored.

W&L returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Guilford in an ODAC-doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.

--GENERALS--