LEXINGTON, Va. - The Washington and Lee University baseball team is the fifth-seed in the 2026 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Baseball Tournament and will take on fourth-seeded and nationally ranked Bridgewater College in the opening series on May 2-3. 

No. 2-ranked Lynchburg secured the ODAC's top seed after posting an 18-1-1 record in conference play. Sixth-ranked Shenandoah, Randolph-Macon and No. 9 Bridgewater round out the top four seeds, each earning hosting rights for the opening round. Bridgewater will host W&L in a best-of-three series, while Virginia Wesleyan, Hampden-Sydney and Roanoke claimed the No. 6, 7 and 8 seeds, respectively.

The Blue and White enter the postseason with a 20-12-1 overall record and a 10-9-1 mark in ODAC play, securing their first 20-win season since 2022. This appearance marks W&L's third trip to the conference tournament in the last four seasons and the second time they will face Bridgewater in the opening round. The Generals carry momentum into the postseason after completing a three-game sweep of Regent University to close out the regular season.

"As a group, we've grown into a team that believes in one another and competes every pitch of every inning. The boys have shown resilience, balance, and depth all season, proving they can compete with anyone. They've earned the opportunity to head to Bridgewater this weekend and are excited to compete" said Head Coach Ted White.

Bridgewater, the ninth-ranked team in Division III, enters the postseason with a 30-10 overall record and a 12-8 mark in ODAC play. The two teams split their regular season series, with W&L claiming a 13-7 win on March 18 in Lexington before the Eagles responded with a 13-3 victory on April 21. As a team, the Eagles are batting .339 on the season, the 20th-best in Division III, with a .976 OPS. They have registered 472 hits while leading the nation in 107 doubles. The Bridgewater pitching staff holds a 4.57 ERA this season with a 1.48 WHIP while holding oppoents to a .257 batting average.

Offensively, the Generals have been one of the top units in the conference, batting .332 with an .888 OPS across 33 games. W&L has totaled 367 hits, including 74 doubles, 16 triples and 11 home runs, while driving in 249 runs. The team owns a .430 on-base percentage and a .458 slugging percentage.First-year Alex Caywood leads both W&L and the ODAC with a .453 batting average, which ranks 16th nationally, and a conference-best 1.245 OPS. He also leads the league and ranks seventh in Division III with 18 doubles, while tallying 52 hits, two triples and a home run. Nathan DeWitte is hitting .406 with 52 hits and a 1.021 OPS, adding six doubles, two triples, two home runs and 24 RBI.

Camdyn Teague and Andrew Thornton are also key contributors, both batting over .350. Teague is hitting .397 with 46 hits, nine doubles, two triples and 30 RBI, while Thornton leads the team with 38 RBI and is batting .352 with 44 hits, six doubles, three triples and one home run.

On the mound, first-year Eric Jacobsen paces the staff with a 3.50 ERA and a 4-2 record across 12 appearances. In 36.0 innings, he has allowed just 30 hits while striking out 45 and holding opponents to a .219 average. Cooper Charneco has been a steady weekend starter, going 4-4 with a 4.07 ERA and a team-high 59 strikeouts over 55.1 innings. Out of the bullpen, senior Brody Pasieka has made 17 appearances, recording 28 strikeouts while serving as the team's primary late-game option.

The best-of-three ODAC opening round series between the Generals and Eagles is set for May 2-3 at Bridgewater Baseball Field. First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday, with Game 2 slated for noon on Sunday. If necessary, a decisive Game 3 will follow at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The winner will advance to the double-elimination ODAC Championship, scheduled for May 7-9 at Capital One Park in Tysons Corner, Va.
 

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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.