BRIDGEWATER, Va. — The Washington and Lee baseball team had the tying run on third base in the top of the ninth inning, but Bridgewater forced a ground out to preserve a 4-3 victory on Tuesday at the Bridgewater Baseball Field.

The Generals (6-8, 4-6 ODAC) were down one run (4-3) to start the final frame. After a line out to open the inning, sophomore third baseman Ryan Weston (Rolling Hills Estates, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula) singled to right field. The Eagles (15-7-1, 6-6 ODAC) then brought in junior Brady Cockerham in attempt to close out the game.

Cockham struck out senior pinch hitter Taylor Rowe (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) to record the second out, but a single by sophomore first baseman Jonny Swenson (Newnan, Ga./Newnan) moved Weston to third. Cockham ended the game and earned his first save of the season by forcing first-year second baseman Austin Crane (Darien, Conn./Fairfield College Prep) to ground out to second.

Junior Ryan Leake earned the victory for Bridgewater to improve to 3-2. He went 8.0 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits. He also had six strikeouts and only one walk.

Senior Drew Shott (Bethesda, Md./Georgetown Prep) pitched a complete game for W&L, but fell to 2-3. He pitched 8.0 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits.

The Eagles scored a run in the first and third innings to take a 2-0 advantage. The Generals cut the lead to 2-1 on a RBI groundout by senior left fielder Drew Weprinsky (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster) in the top of the fourth.

Bridgewater responded in the bottom of the fourth with two runs. Junior first baseman Brendan Howell homered to right center and sophomore designated hitter Brandon Poole registered a RBI groundout.

The Blue and White trimmed the deficit to 4-2 on a one-run single by junior center fielder Luke Myer (Durham, N.C./Durham Academy) in the sixth, and then Myer tripled home Swenson in the eighth to bring the Generals within one (4-3).

W&L next plays on Wednesday when it travels to Eastern Mennonite for a 4:00 pm contest.

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