VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – After going back and forth for four innings, the Washington and Lee baseball team used another late rally to power its way past Virginia Wesleyan, 11-10, in the first ODAC game of the season on Friday.
 
Trailing by a 1-0 score in the top of the fourth inning, first-year second baseman Colin Liebe (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill) drove in a pair of runs on a double to right center. After the Marlins (3-6, 0-1 ODAC) tied it in the bottom of the fourth, the Generals (7-1, 1-0 ODAC) regained the lead when junior shortstop Jason Volpicelli (Great Falls, Va./Paul VI Catholic) and senior catcher Bryce Burnette (Hurt, Va./Gretna) combined to drive in three, two-out runs.
 
The Marlins fought back to tie the game at five right away, but first-year left fielder Zach Perkins (Vienna, Va./James Madison) singled through the left side to drive in two runs in the top of the sixth. However, Virginia Wesleyan kept pace with another tying run in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Both sides scratched home plate once in the seventh, before the Generals took the final lead of the game in the top of the eighth. Senior right fielder Ryan Monson (Frisco, Texas/Wakeland) doubled home the go ahead run with one out, followed by run-scoring singles from Liebe and sophomore first baseman Brian Wickman (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central Regional).
 
The Marlins scored their final two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but junior Nate Cohen (Atlanta, Ga./North Springs) got the final two batters out with runners on first and third to close the contest.
 
Burnette tallied four hits in the game and drove in two runs and scored three times. Liebe and Volpicelli both went 3-for-5 at the plate, with Liebe driving in three, while Volpicelli scored three times and drove in one run. Perkins notched two hits and two RBI and first-year center fielder Mitchell Salvino (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) tallied two hits and two runs scored. 
 
Senior Jackson Thigpen (Potomac, Md./St. John's College) got a no decision as the W&L starting pitcher after allowing five runs in 4.2 innings. Cohen (1-0) earned his first win of the year after tossing the final 2.1 innings and allowing one earned run (two total) on four hits.
 
For the Marlins, sophomore center fielder Miles Christian went 4-for-5 in the game, scored three times and drove in a pair of runs. Junior first baseman Matt Dagostino and senior catcher Zack Burkhart both had three hits in the game and combined for four RBI and two runs.
 
Sophomore reliever Robert Cook (0-3) suffered the loss, as he gave up three runs on five hits in two innings of work.
 
The Generals will look to sweep the two-game series against the Marlins with a 12:00 pm first pitch on Saturday in Virginia Beach.