Washington and Lee takes two in baseball from Guilford College

LEXINGTON, Va. — The Washington and Lee baseball team used a pair of
late-inning rallies to eke out two 5-4 victories over Guilford College and
sweep an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) doubleheader at Cap’n Dick
Smith Field Saturday afternoon.

In game one, W&L (6-8, 4-3 ODAC) trailed 4-3 entering the bottom of the
seventh and final inning before sophomore leftfielder C.J. Thompson (Ponte
Vedra Beach, Fla./Nease) singled with one out. Senior second baseman John
Ditore followed with a single to right that allowed Thompson to score from
first as Guilford first-year rightfielder Casey Mann (Reisterstown,
Md./North Carroll) made an errant throw to third trying to retire Thompson,
which also allowed Ditore to advance to second base. Following a hit
batsman, senior catcher Will Lewis (Columbia, S.C./A.C. Flora) singled to
load the bases and senior first baseman Hunter Serenbetz (Stamford,
Conn./Taft) recorded the game-winning single to left to give the Generals
the 5-4 win.

Junior Gregg Laswell (Houston, Texas/Memorial) earned his first win of the
season as he allowed one run in two innings of relief of senior Chuck
Davidson (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier). Laswell allowed two hits and struck out
one. Davidson yielded three runs on eight hits and one walk with one
strikeout in five innings of work.

Junior rightfielder Anthony Cardona (Lower Gwynedd, Pa./Chestnut Hill) led
W&L with a 2-for-2 showing at the plate. He scored two runs and drove in one
with a solo homerun. Ditore finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Senior leftfielder Alex Starbuck (Kernersville, N.C./East Forsyth) led
Guilford (10-11, 3-5 ODAC) with one hit in three at-bats and two of runs
scored. Junior first baseman Kyle Wooden (Monroe, N.C./Sun Valley) finished
2-for-4 with a double and a run scored and junior designated hitter Derek
Hardison (Monroe, N.C./Parkwood) drove in a pair of runs.

Junior starter Will Simpson (Cary, N.C./Green Hope) took the loss (2-2) as
he allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks and four strikeouts in
6.1 innings of work.

In game two, W&L trailed 4-3 entering the ninth inning when Thompson led off
with a double. He advanced to third on a single by Ditore and sophomore
designated hitter Alston James (Columbia, S.C./Hammond) bunted Ditore over
to second. Lewis was intentionally walked to load the bases and Serenbetz
followed with a grounder to third that was misplayed by Guilford senior Drew
Ward (Wilkesboro, N.C./West Wilkes), which allowed Thompson to score and tie
the game at 4-4. Cardona then hit a single to third that scored Ditore and
gave the Generals their second come-from-behind victory of the day.

Laswell once again earned the win (2-0), as he tossed two innings of
scoreless relief. He allowed just one hit and had one strikeout. Sophomore
Roger Strong (Spencerport, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) started for W&L and allowed
four runs on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

Thompson finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored, while Cardona
and senior third baseman Jim Plantholt (Pylesville, Md./North Harford) both
recorded two hits and scored and drove in one run.

Senior Adam Hart (Jacksonville, N.C./White Oak) took the loss (5-2) for the
Quakers. He allowed five runs, only two of which were earned as W&L took
advantage of four Guilford errors. Hart went 8.1 innings, surrendering 10
hits and three walks while striking out five.

Junior centerfielder Jordan Nelson (Hudson, N.C./West Caldwell) led the
Quakers with a 2-for-4 showing at the plate, including a solo home run.
Hardison added a solo homer and first-year shortstop D.J. Phillips (Monroe,
N.C./Parkwood) finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Guilford returns to action on Monday as it takes on Tufts University at 3:00 pm.
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Washington and Lee 5, Guilford 4 (Mar 20, 2010 at Lexington, VA) (Game 1)
———————————————————————-
Guilford………… 100 020 1 – 4 10 2 (10-10, 3-4 ODAC)
Washington and Lee.. 021 000 2 – 5 9 2 (5-8, 3-3 ODAC)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Guilford – Will Simpson; Michael Blocher(7) and Jason Flud.
Washington and Lee –
Chuck Davidson; Gregg Laswell(6) and Will Lewis.
Win-Gregg Laswell(1-0) Loss-Will Simpson(2-2) T-1:43 A-183
HR W&L – Anthony Cardona.
Weather: Sunny, low 70s
Blocher faced 3 batters in the 7th.
Game: GCB-20
Washington and Lee 5, Guilford 4 (Mar 20, 2010 at Lexington, VA) (Game 2)
———————————————————————-
Guilford………… 010 020 100 – 4 8 4 (10-11, 3-5 ODAC)
Washington and Lee.. 000 003 002 – 5 10 0 (6-8, 4-3 ODAC)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Guilford – Adam Hart and Will Cornelius. Washington and Lee –
Roger Strong;
Gregg Laswell(8) and Will Lewis.
Win-Gregg Laswell(2-0) Loss-Adam Hart(5-2) T-1:50 A-183
HR GC – Jordan Nelson; Derek Hardison.
Weather: Sunny, Low 70s
Game: GCB-21

Dave Walters
Guilford College Athletics