LEXINGTON, Va. - The Washington and Lee University baseball team split an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) doubleheader with Hampden-Sydney College, falling in game one 10-9 while securing a 6-5 win in game two.
GAME ONE | H-SC 10, W&L 9
- The Generals (7-9, 2-8 ODAC) struck first in game one after Campbell Charneco led off the bottom of the second inning with a single down the right field line before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Oakley Rempel drove in Charneco with a single through the right side before coming around to score on a fielder's choice, putting W&L up 2-0.
- After a single and double put a pair of runners in scoring position for Hampden-Sydney (11-10, 5-4 ODAC), Jase Howell singled to drive in one runner, while the second came around to score on a Generals' error. With the bases loaded, Jack Wilson doubled to center field, driving in all three runners to put the Tigers up 5-2.
- The Tigers extended their lead to four in the top of the fifth as a Moore double and Sanford single put runners on the corners. Howell then drove in Moore with a sacrifice fly to center field.
- Nathan DeWitte reached first on an error before coming around to score on an Andrew Thornton triple to right-center field, cutting the H-SC lead to three in the bottom of the fifth.
- Hampden-Sydney plated three more runs in the top of the sixth as three doubles drove in three runs, giving them a 9-3 advantage.
- Singles from Rempel and Preston Larmore put a pair of runners on for John Turner, who blasted a single to right-center field to cut the deficit to five in the sixth.
- A strong seventh inning from W&L cut the lead to one as they scored four runs on five hits. Following a DeWitte single, Thornton launched a two-run home run to left field, bringing the score to 9-6 in favor of the Tigers. Charneco singled before Paul Ramseur doubled down the right field line, putting two runners in scoring position. Back-to-back sacrifice flies drove both runners in, bringing the score to 9-8.
- In the bottom of the eighth, DeWitte tripled to lead off the inning before Thornton drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center field, tying the game at nine. However, Sanford gave the Tigers the lead in the top of the ninth with a solo shot to left-center field, putting H-SC up 10-9.
- Austin Sterling shut the door in the bottom half of the frame, striking out two batters and forcing a fly out to secure the game one win.
GAME TWO | W&L 6, H-SC 5
- Hampden-Sydney got on the board in the top of the second as Grayson Harris led off the inning with a double down the right field line before coming around to score on a Howell single up the middle, giving H-SC a 1-0 lead.
- Back-to-back singles in the top of the third set the Tigers up for success, and two batters later, Noah Leonard scored on a ground out to extend their lead to two.
- The Generals took a one-run lead in the next frame as Larmore and DeWitte got on base to start the inning. DeWitte stole second base, but an errant throw by the Tigers' catcher allowed Larmore to score. Nick Lagges knotted the game at two with a single up the middle, driving in DeWitte. Ramseur singled later in the inning before moving over to second on a failed pick off attempt. He came around to score when Turner singled to center field, giving W&L a 3-2 lead.
- In the top of the fifth, Hampden-Sydney retook the lead as Sanford blasted a two-run home run to center field, putting the Tigers up 4-3. However, Ramseur singled up the middle in the next frame before stealing second to put himself in scoring position. Charneco drove him in two batters later with a single through the right side, tying the game at four.
- The Blue and White scored their final runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth, as back-to-back singles from Larmore and DeWitte put a pair of runners on. Thornton then cleared the bases with a double to center field, giving W&L a 6-4 lead.
- Drama ensued in the top of the ninth as Wilson reached first on an error before Sanford roped a triple to right-center field, cutting the lead to one. Arnold then hit a slow chopper to third base, and Sanford took off for home, but Thornton threw him out at the plate to take out the lead runner.
- In the next at-bat, Moore blasted a shot into right-center field, where Paul Ramseur made a diving catch to save a run and double off the runner, securing a 6-5 win in game two.
W&L GAME NOTES
- With the doubleheader split, the Generals moved to 7-9 on the season with a 2-8 mark in ODAC play.
- Campbell Charneco led the doubleheader with a 5-for-9 (.556) effort at the plate, recording one RBI. Andrew Thornton led the team with six RBI, tallying a double, triple, and home run across both games.
- Evan Blair (1-2) was credited with the loss in game one after allowing one run (one earned) on one hit in his two innings of work. Cooper Charneco (1-1) earned the win on the mound in game two after tossing a complete game—the first since Evan Blair's in 2023 against H-SC. Charneco allowed five runs (four earned) on 14 hits while striking out nine batters.
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY GAME NOTES
- The Tigers moved to 11-10 on the season with a 5-4 mark in conference play.
- Jack Wilson led the Tigers with a 6-for-10 effort at the plate today, recording four RBI and three doubles. Chase Sanford led game two with three RBI while adding one in game one.
- Austin Sterling (2-2) earned the win on the mound in game one after tossing 1.2 shutout innings with three strikeouts. Bobby Holihan (1-2) was credited with the loss in game two, allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits with a pair of strikeouts.
UP NEXT
- The Generals continue ODAC play on Tuesday, March 25 as they host Eastern Mennonite University at Cap'n Dick Smith Field at 4 p.m.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
