HARRISONBURG, Va. – Sophomore third baseman Luke Erdmann (Vienna, Va./James Madison) continued his hot hitting with a 5-for-5, five RBI performance in the Washington and Lee baseball team's 18-11 loss at Eastern Mennonite on Tuesday.
 
Trailing by a 16-2 run, the Generals (3-8, 3-8 ODAC) started their comeback attempt by scoring four runs in the top of the sixth and three runs in the seventh. Sophomore center fielder Mitchell Salvino (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Christian) doubled in a run, first-year catcher Drew Larsen (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) hit a two-run single and Erdmann drove in a run in the sixth. 
 
First-year designated hitter Julian Domenech (New York, N.Y./Hunter College) hit a solo home run with two outs in the seventh and Larsen drove in another two runs to cut the EMU (4-3, 4-3 ODAC) lead to 16-9.
 
The Royals tacked on their final two runs in the bottom of the seventh when first-year catcher Matthew Harding scored on a wild pitch and first-year Alex Gulisano doubled in a run. W&L scored its final two runs in the top of the ninth on another Erdmann base hit, as he drove in a pair in a single.
 
The Royals put four runs on the board in the second inning when senior center fielder Jaylon Lee hit a grand slam to left field. Lee then helped EMU put three runs up in the fourth when he singled in a run. Lee then stole second, which allowed junior right fielder Jordan Jones to score from third. Lee proceeded to steal third and then scored on a sacrifice fly to left from senior shortstop Brett Lindsay.
 
W&L got its first two runs in the top of the fifth inning when Erdmann drove in a pair of runs on a base hit to left field. 
 
EMU posted nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to balloon its lead to 16-2. The frame was highlighted by Lee's second home run of the game, a three-run shot to left, and a three-run double off the bat of senior catcher John Judy. 
 
Erdmann reached base a total of six times, as he was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning, and he is the 11th different player in W&L baseball history to have a five-hit game. He is the first to do so since Chadwick Feeley '19 accomplished the feat on February 22, 2017 and, in total, it is just the 12th five-hit performance by a General in program history. 
 
Salvino contributed four hits on the day, drove in one run and scored four times, while Larsen finished with a pair of hits and four RBI after entering late as a pinch hitter. Sophomore right-hander John Raymond (Frenchtown, N.J./Delaware Valley Regional) (0-2) was the pitcher of record in the loss, allowing four earned runs in 1.1 innings.
 
For the Royals, Lee finished 3-for-4 with two home runs and eight RBI at the plate to lead the offense. Judy went 1-for-3, drove in three and scored twice. Sophomore righty Daniel Hupart (1-0) was the winning pitcher for EMU, as he pitched a scoreless third inning. 
 
The Generals will return to the field on Saturday when they travel to Guilford for a conference doubleheader beginning at 12:00 pm.