VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Washington and Lee baseball team opened conference play on Saturday, splitting a doubleheader at Virginia Wesleyan.

The Generals (11-6, 1-1 ODAC) grab an early 5-1 lead in game one and held on for a 5-3 victory, but the Marlins (5-4, 1-1 ODAC) used a six-run first inning to win the second contest, 8-4.

In the opener, W&L took a 1-0 advantage in the first on a RBI single by senior center fielder Luke Myer (Durham, N.C./Durham Academy). VWC tied the game in the second on a solo home run by sophomore right fielder Randy Neisz. In third inning, sophomore left fielder Kyle Ruedisili (Jupiter, Fla./The Benjamin School) ripped a two-out two-run double to right center, and then later came home on a throwing error to push the Generals lead to 4-1. W&L added its fifth run in the fourth on a RBI double by first-year second baseman Chadwick Feeley (Jacksonville, Fla./Episcopal School).

Virginia Wesleyan recorded two runs in the sixth (5-3), but the Blue and White pitching staff stymied the Marlins the rest of the game to earn the victory. Junior Tom Concklin (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) started for W&L and went 5.0 innings to improve to 2-0. He gave up one run on four hits, while striking out five.

First-year Danny Devereux (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect) pitched the final 3.0 innings to register his second save of the year. He did not give up a run on two hits. Sophomore Nick Bay took the loss for VWC in 2.1 innings. He allowed three runs on three hits and two walks.

Junior pitcher Anderson Baldy (Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Prep) struggled in game two for the Generals, failing to get out of the first inning. He walked the first four batters of the frame to spot the Marlins a 1-0 lead. Baldy then forced junior designated hitter Taylor Erby to ground into a double play, while another VWC player crossed home plate to extend the lead to 2-0.

Baldy walked the next hitter and then hit first-year third baseman Luke Chiasson with a pitch to again load the bases. Chiasson was the last batter for Baldy, who was removed for first-year Kevin McHugh (Forest Hill, Md./McDonogh School) after just 0.2 innings pitched. McHugh walked the first Marlin he faced to score a run, and then gave up a bases clearing double to give VWC a 6-0 advantage at the end of the first.

Trailing 8-1 in the top of the ninth, the Generals rallied for three runs. With one out and runners on second and third, sophomore shortstop Austin Crane (Darien, Conn./Fairfield College Prep) recorded a RBI ground out (8-2). Following a hit batter, junior catcher Cory Paton (Ashton, Md./St. Johns College) singled up the middle to plate Ruedisili. W&L notched its final tally on a RBI single to right center by Feeley to reach the final margin of 8-4.

Baldy allowed five runs and took the loss to fall to 1-1. McHugh threw the final 7.1 innings of the game. He gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits with three strikeouts. First-year Joe Bobiak earned the win for the Marlins. He allowed one run on six hits in 5.0 innings to improve to 3-0.

Ruedisili finished the doubleheader 3-for-8 with three runs and two RBI, while Paton went 3-for-9 with two runs scored and a RBI.

The Generals return to action on Thursday at home against Penn State-Harrisburg at 3:00 pm.

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