LEXINGTON, Va. – A seven-run bottom of the eighth inning proved crucial for the Washington and Lee baseball team, as it moved to 4-0 overall on the season with a 9-3 win over Keystone on Friday evening.
 
Leading by a 2-1 score in the bottom of the eighth inning, junior shortstop Jason Volpicelli (Great Falls, Va./Paul VI Catholic) scored on a wild pitch to add an insurance run, before sophomore first baseman Brian Wickman (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central Regional) singled in another run.
 
A dropped fall ball by the Keystone left fielder and a misplayed grounder by the center fielder opened the flood gates to five more W&L runs, leaving the Generals ahead, 9-1, entering the top of the ninth.
 
The Giants (0-1) managed to scrape two runs across in the final half inning, but junior reliever Peyton McCann (Midlothian, Va./James River) got a strikeout to put the game away.
 
Sophomore designated hitter Luke Czepiel (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) and Volpicelli helped W&L gain an early advantage, as Czepiel drove in a run in the bottom of the second, while Volpicelli logged an RBI ground out in the third.
 
Senior right-hander Jackson Thigpen (Potomac, Md./St. John's College) was dealing all game long, allowing no runs through the first six innings. The Giants scratched home a run with one out in the top of the seventh, and threatened for more in the eighth. However, with a man on second and two outs, Thigpen got a fly out to escape the jam to end his night.
 
Thigpen (2-0) earned the win after tossing eight innings and allowing one run on four hits with just one walk and six strikeouts. McCann pitched the ninth inning and struck out a pair of hitters.
 
Offensively, Gazin continued his hot start to the season with a 3-for-4 game, scoring twice and driving in two more runs. Gazin also stole a base and walked once. First-year center fielder Zach Perkins (Vienna, Va./James Madison) went 2-for-5 with an RBI and senior catcher Bryce Burnette (Hurt, Va./Gretna) tallied one hit and scored twice.
 
For Keystone, senior Manny Rojas and first-year Seth Brizel accounted for one RBI each in the ninth inning, while four other Giants finished the game with one hit apiece.
 
Junior righty Sean Roberts (0-1) took the loss as he allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Junior Sean Perry and sophomore Jordan Montes pitched the eighth inning and surrendered seven runs (two earned) on four hits combined.
 
The Generals will return to action on Saturday for the second game of the two-game set against Keystone at Cap'n Dick Smith Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.