HARRISONBURG, Va. — Sophomore shortstop Austin Crane (Darien, Conn./Fairfield College Prep) went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Washington and Lee baseball team to an 8-2 victory at Eastern Mennonite on Wednesday.  

The Generals (17-9, 5-4 ODAC) scored their first two runs in the top of the second. With runners on first and second and two outs, Crane hit a two-run double down the left field line to plate both runners.

W&L added a run in the fifth (3-0) on a RBI single by senior center fielder Luke Myer (Durham, N.C./Durham Academy), and then the Generals broke the game open with four runs in the sixth. Holding a 3-1 lead entering the frame, the Blue and White loaded the bases with no outs, after junior first baseman Jonny Swenson (Newnan, Ga./Newnan) reached on an error.

Crane then singled through the right side to score one run and give W&L a 4-1 edge. Following a strikeout, the Royals (11-9, 3-4 ODAC) changed pitchers, but junior catcher Cory Paton (Ashton, Md./St. Johns College) extended the lead to 6-1 on a two-run single up the middle.

Sophomore left fielder Kyle Ruedisili (Jupiter, Fla./The Benjamin School) capped the inning with a RBI single down the right field line. The Generals tallied their final run in the seventh to push the score to 8-1 on a RBI double by first-year second baseman Chadwick Feeley (Jacksonville, Fla./Episcopal School). EMU scored its last run in the eighth on a home run by junior left fielder David Meehan to reach the final margin of 8-2.

The Royals recorded their first run in the fifth on a one-run single by junior designated hitter Ryan Hedrick. EMU's next best chance to score came in the fourth, when the team had the bases loaded with one out. First-year starter Kevin McHugh (Forest Hill, Md./McDonogh School) escaped the jam by forcing senior first baseman Nic Love to ground into a double play to end the inning. 

McHugh threw the opening 4.2 innings, allowing one run on six hits and two walks. Sophomore Tyler Murphy (Chesapeake, Va./Greenbrier Christian Academy) came on in relief to earn the victory. He pitched 4.0 innings, giving up one run on six hits to improve to 3-0. First-year Andrew Earvolino (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) recorded the final out of the contest.

First-year Ryan Brewer suffered the loss for EMU. He allowed three runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings to fall to 2-1. Ruedisili finished the game 4-for-4 with a triple and one RBI, and Paton was 2-for-5 with two RBI.  

The Generals host Guilford on Saturday for a doubleheader, starting at 1:00 pm.

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