KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – The Washington and Lee baseball team dropped its opening game of the D3 Showcase at Atrium Health Ballpark by a 6-2 score to Keystone on Friday night.
 
The Generals fall to 4-3 overall with the loss while the Giants open their season at 1-0 with the win.
 
W&L scored both of its runs in the top of the second inning, with the game's first run coming across on a double down the left field line by sophomore second baseman Zach Senders (Potomac, Md. / Bullis School). During the ensuing at-bat, sophomore shortstop Ethan Zulueta (Matthews, N.C. / Weddington) scored from third on a throwing error by Keystone senior pitcher Nathan Hinkley on a pick-off attempt.
 
The Giants answered with a three-run third inning, which started with junior center fielder Jason Thomas reaching on a hit by pitch. Thomas eventually scored from third three batters later when graduate left fielder Adam Kelly reached on a fielder's choice. Two batters after, senior catcher RJ Gouldsbury doubled home two runs to give Keystone the lead.
 
Keystone added its final three runs in the bottom of the fourth a sacrifice fly from junior third baseman Chris Hadsall, a single up the middle from senior designated hitter Vince Montone and a single through the left side by Kelly.
 
Hinkley (1-0) earned the win on the mound after he worked six innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. First-year right-hander Nick Termini covered the final three innings, limiting W&L to no runs on one hit with no walks and two strikeouts to earn his first save of the season.
 
First-year righty Jack Cope (Chevy Chase, Md. / Landon School) (1-1) was the pitcher of record for the Generals, as he surrendered six runs on six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in 3.2 frames. First-year right-hander Andrew Flood (Manhasset, N.Y. / Manhasset Secondary School) covered the next 1.1 innings and allowed no runs on one hit and one walk, while junior righty Derek Hughes (Raleigh, N.C. / Ravenscroft School) pitched the final three innings. Hughes also did not allow a run, and he struck out five with one walk and one hit. Hughes logged three of his five strikeouts in an immaculate sixth inning, when he struck out all three batters on just nine pitches.
 
Sophomore catcher Jaden Keuhner (Aldie, Va. / John Champe) went 2-for-4 at the plate for W&L with a run scored, while Zulueta, Senders and junior designated hitter Mitchell Salvino (Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Catholic) each logged one knock.
 
For Keystone, Hadsall and Gouldsbury finished with two hits each and combined for three RBI, while Kelly logged a 1-for-3 game with a run, two RBI and a walk.
 
The Generals will be back on the diamond on Saturday at 2:00 pm when they take on No. 3 Marietta at Atrium Health Ballpark in the D3 Showcase.