WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Feb.
17, 2012) - The William and Mary baseball team opened the 2012 season with
a 2-1 victory against Rhode Island at Plumeri Park on Friday evening.
Junior Brett Koehler (1-0) was outstanding on the mound and
earned the win, as he pitched 7.0 innings and allowed just one hit and two walks
with five strikeouts. Junior John Farrell picked up the save, while senior Matt Davenport pitched a perfect eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts.
Although he allowed just two earned runs in 5.2 innings of
work, Rhode Island starter Chris Pickering (0-1) took the loss.
Senior first baseman Tadd Bower went 2-for-4 with a run
scored to lead W&M offensively, while freshman designated hitter Michael Katz went 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks in his collegiate debut. Sophomore
third baseman Ryan Lindemuth also came up big with a 1-for-3 effort and a run
scored.
The Tribe got on the scoreboard first with a run in the
bottom of the fourth. Lindemuth led off the inning with a single to left, and
Katz drove him in with a double to deep right center.
W&M added another run in the bottom of the sixth with a
one-out sacrifice fly to right by senior catcher Chris Forsten. Bower led off
the frame with a double to deep center and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
After Katz drew a one-out walk two batters latter to put runners on the
corners, Forsten plated Bower with the sacrifice fly.
The College threatened to extend its lead in the bottom of
the eighth but was unable to put any runs across. After Lindemuth and Katz drew
consecutive one-out walks, Forsten hit a deep fly ball to left but URI left
fielder Kevin Stenhouse made the grab on the warning track.
URI pushed across a run in the ninth, but Farrell worked his
way out of a jam and preserved the victory. Shortstop Mike LeBel got things
started with a one-out single to left center, and catcher Pat Quinn followed
with a walk. Pinch hitter Joe Landi then reached on a bunt single to load the
bases. After Stenhouse struck out swinging for the second out of the inning, third
baseman Dan Haverstick drew a walk to bring in the Rams' lone run of the game. Farrell
then closed out the contest when Adams grounded into a fielder's choice to
short.
W&M and URI will close out the three-game,
season-opening series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
