WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - A
pair of eighth inning runs lifted the William and Mary baseball team past
Rutgers, 4-3, on Friday afternoon in the series opener at Plumeri Park. Senior designated hitter Jackson Shaver drove
in the tying run, while freshman pinch-hitter Jonathan Sarty plated the go
ahead run as the Tribe improved its overall mark to 9-4. The setback drops Rutgers to 2-8 on the
season.
Senior RHP Brett Koehler (2-1) was solid on a cold and
blustery afternoon in Williamsburg, Va.
The Glen Gardner, N.J., native worked 6.2 innings and allowed just two
earned runs, while posting eight strikeouts in the no decision. Junior RHP John Sheehan earned the victory
(1-0) after an outstanding performance in relief. In all, the Westwood, Mass., native recorded
two strikeouts, while not allowing a base runner in 1.1 innings of action. Freshman Mitchell Aker recorded his third
save of the year after retiring the Rutgers lineup in order in the ninth.
At the plate, Shaver finished the afternoon with an RBI, two
hits and a run scored. Sophomore third
baseman Michael Katz went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while junior left fielder Willie
Shaw tallied a hit and a run batted in on two at bats. In his only at bat of the contest, Sarty
connected on a single through the middle of the diamond. Seniors Ryan Brown and Derek Lowe along with
junior second baseman Ryan Lindemuth all registered a hit in contest.
As it has done often this season, the Green and Gold struck
early with a pair of runs in the opening frame.
With one out and runners on first and third, Katz's fielder's choice to
the shortstop plated Nutter for W&M's first run of the contest. Shaw followed by driving in the Tribe's
second run of the inning with a single through the left side, which plated
Brown due to obstruction on the Rutgers third baseman.
The Scarlet Knight's tied the affair as it plated two runs
in the top half of the fourth. With two
outs and a runner on second, senior right fielder Steve Zavala connected on a
two-run home run to right field.
In the top of the seventh, Rutgers went ahead, 3-2, after
junior center fielder Brian O'Grady drove in junior shortstop Pat Sweeney with
a single to right field.
W&M responded and in a big way as the Tribe scored the
tying and go ahead runs in the bottom half of the eighth. With two-outs and freshman catcher Ryan
Hissey on second, Shaver belted a single to left field, which tied the contest
at 3-3. On a heads up play, Shaver
advanced to second on RU's attempt to throw out Hissey at home. Sarty, who came in as a pinch hitter, plated
Shaver for the go-ahead run with a single up the middle of the infield.
In the top of the ninth, Aker retired the side in order as
the Tribe prevailed for the 4-3 victory.
The series continues tomorrow with the first pitch at
Plumeri Park slated for 4 p.m. Fans can
follow the action online at TribeAthletics.com with live audio and stats.
