ARLINGTON, Va. – It was an action-packed afternoon for the Marymount (Va.) University baseball team as the Saints pulled off a thrilling 9-8 victory in the first game of a doubleheader against Washington and Lee University before falling in an equally-thrilling extra-innings second game.

Both games between the Saints (3-2) and Generals (6-2) went the distance, and then some, with the margin of victory in each game being a single run.

Marymount (Va.) 9, Washington and Lee 8 (9 inn.)

Washington and Lee started off scoring in the second inning of the first game, but Marymount quickly answered back in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs – sophomore Kaden Darrow was able to tie the game after scoring on a wild pitch, and a groundout to third by sophomore Stephen Berczek brought in freshman Conner Hall.

The Generals were able to answer back with three runs in the top of the fourth, but it was a four-run, unanswered fifth inning by Marymount that gave the team momentum and a 6-4 lead.

In the top of the sixth inning, Washington and Lee swung for the fences, scoring four runs, but Marymount pitched in with a pair of runs of its own to knot the score at 8-8.

It was freshman Evan Todd's single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth inning that brought Hall across home plate for the 9-8 victory.

Berczek collected a team-high three RBI in the first game. Senior Charlie DiGiulian collected the win on the mound, pitching four innings, facing 21 batters and striking out two.

The second game was just as exciting, though Marymount came up just short after a tremendous 10-inning effort.

Washington and Lee 3, Marymount (Va.) 2 (10 inn.)

The Saints grabbed an early lead in the second inning of game two when Ben Berczek opened the inning with a double to left field. Berczek advanced to third on Brandon Orbe's bunt single and came home for the 1-0 lead on Stephen Berczek's single through the right side.

The Generals came up with consecutive doubles in the top of the third to tie the game, but the Saints would regain the lead in the home half of the inning thanks to another Ben Berczek double.

Luke Tyree began the bottom of the third with a single up the middle and moved into scoring position on a groundout before Ben Berczek doubled to right-center for the go-ahead run.

The 2-1 lead held until the top of the sixth inning as Marymount starter Dylan Gerdts limited the Generals to just three hits in the first five innings.

W&L tied the game in the top of the sixth, getting two hits and bringing home the tying run with one out in the inning.

The game remained tied at 2-2 through the end the scheduled seven innings of play, and into the 10th with reliever Hall working four scoreless innings.

In the top of the 10th inning, Kyle Ruedisili singled up the middle with one out for the Generals, before Washington and Lee loaded the bases and Zach Loewenberg sent a single into right field to give the visitors the 3-2 lead.

The Saints would not go quietly in the bottom of the 10th, putting the potential tying run 90 feet from home. Ben Berczek walked with one out and Orbe doubled putting two runners into scoring position. Stephen Berczek was intentionally walked to load the bases, but the Generals were able to secure the final two outs for the doubleheader split. 

The Saints look to rebound against Hood College on Monday, February 22 at 12:30 p.m. That game will be played at Nationals Baseball Youth Academy in Washington, D.C.