Ribbie Reporter -- NCAA day 1

Salisbury 3, Washington and Lee 2

Well then. W&L started Chuck Davidson threw 8 innings, gave up 2 hits and walked 2 ... and took the loss. Argh. Washington and Lee outhit Salisbury 7 to 2 ... and lost. Oy.

Playing the No. 3 team in Division III, a team that has a 2.71 ERA and a .355 team batting average, W&L played very, very well ... and lost. It was a brisk affair, over in 1:35 with complete games from each team.
The 3rd inning was the exciting one. W&L loaded the bases with two outs, and on a 1-2 pitch Catcher Will Lewis demonstrated some great hitting by staying behind an outside fastball and lacing it into the left center gap. W&L led 2-0.
But things went bad in the bottom of the 3rd. With a man on first, Salisbury hit a routine, but spinning, grounder to first. 1B Hunter Serenbetz booted it. Two batters later, with one out and the bases loaded, the number two hitter tapped a slow roller to short. The ball died in the grass, and SS John Ditore tried to make a flip towards second rather than going to first. The Salisbury runner beat the throw to second, so everyone was safe and a run scored. This proved critical when Salisbury's next batter had another RBI groundout that was only the second out instead of the third out.
Two mistakes. But they came in the same inning and at a bad time. And that's all it took for W&L to miss a beautiful upset chance.

They're back in action at 10 a.m. tomorrow vs. Washington and Jefferson. Game broadcast will be available at http://wlur.wlu.edu