LEXINGTON, VA--For the first time since renewing its baseball program in 2002, Roanoke College defeated the Generals of Washington & Lee University, that a 3-1 victory on Wednesday afternoon in Lexington, VA. The Maroons, who had dropped the first six meetings of the series, improve to 4-9 overall on the 2005 season and 1-2 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Generals are now 17-4 overall on the year and 5-2 in the ODAC.
A combination of timely hitting and strong pitching helped the Maroons break their six-game slide to the Generals. Maroon starter Chase Davidson (Vinton, VA/William Byrd) pitched the first seven innings in earning the win, allowing just one earned run on five hits. He also struck out three General batters. Sophomore
Jonathan Wills (Salem, VA/Salem) then threw the final two innings, giving up just three hits in earning his first save of the season. He also fanned one W&L batter.
The Maroons quickly gained control of the game, scoring one run in the top of the first inning. With one down,
Brennan Thacker (Forest, VA/Jefferson Forest) singled to right and moved to third during the next at-bat when Brandon Wilson (Smithfield, VA/Smithfield) singled up the middle. Nathan Unroe (Iron City, VA/Alleghany) then gave the Maroons the 1-0 lead with a single to the right side.
The Maroons scored the eventual game-winning run in the top of the fifth inning. It was Thacker and Unroe that again struck for the visitors. Again with one out, Thacker reached base, this time on a double to right-center. Two batters later, Unroe singled to left field, bringing in Thacker from second.
The Maroons put themselves ahead by three runs just an inning later. With
Josh Ringstaff (Abingdon, VA/Abingdon) on first after reaching on a fielder's choice, Kirby Hamilton (Salem, VA/Salem) was able to drive in Ringstaff with a double to right field. The Generals answered back in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to get any closer the rest of the way.
The Maroons are back in action on Saturday in a home double-header against the Tigers of Hampden-Sydney College. The Maroons and Tigers will get their first game of the double-header underway at 12:00pm at Salem, VA's Kiwanis Field.
Roanoke vs. Washington & Lee Box Score
