WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William and Mary baseball team scored three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings as it erased a 7-3 deficit en route to surging past James Madison, 9-8, on Saturday afternoon at Plumeri Park. The win improves the Tribe's record to 24-13 overall and 8-3 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while the setback drops JMU to 14-19 on the season and 6-10 in league action.
Sophomore first baseman Michael Katz led the way with three RBIs on one hit to go along with a run scored. Freshman left fielder Jonathan Sarty went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while junior third baseman Willie Shaw went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Senior center fielder Ryan Brown finished the afternoon with two runs scored, while freshman catcher Ryan Hissey registered an RBI. Senior Jackson Shaver, who made just one plate appearance, made the most of it as the Williamsburg, Va., native drove in a run on a single through the left side. Senior shortstop Ryan Williams rounded out the effort by going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
On the mound, junior RHP John Sheehan (3-2) picked up his third win of the season after retiring the last out in the eighth inning. Senior RHP John Farrell started the tilt and worked seven innings in which he allowed just three earned runs while posting six strikeouts. Senior LHP Matt Wainman registered his third save of the season after recording the last three outs in the ninth.
James Madison started strong on Saturday afternoon with three runs in the first inning. With one out and the bases loaded, sophomore Chad Carroll's double to left center field cleared the bases as the Dukes grabbed an early 3-0 lead.
The Green and Gold responded with three runs of its own as it tied the affair in the bottom half. After W&M put its first two batters on base, JMU was poised to escape the frame after turning a 4-6-3 double play. However, the Dukes proceeded to walk the next two batters as it loaded the bases with two outs. Hissey followed with a walk, which pushed across Brown for the Tribe's first run. Sarty capped the early inning fireworks with a two-out two-RBI double down the right field chalk, which plated freshman designated hitter Charley Gould and Katz.
JMU went ahead 4-3 after scoring a run in the top of the third. The Dukes extended its advantage to 7-3 after putting up a three-spot in the top half of the seventh. The frame was highlighted by Carroll's three-run home run over the left field wall. Carroll finished the contest with six RBIs on two hits.
Facing a four-run deficit as play entered the bottom half of the seventh, W&M wasted no time in chipping away at the JMU advantage. On one swing of the bat and with the bases loaded, Katz drove in three runs with a two-out double that was laced down the left field line and after seven innings of play W&M trailed by only a run, 7-6.
The Dukes responded in the eighth with a run as it extended is advantage to 8-6. Senior shortstop Casey Goss' two-out RBI single to left center field drove in senior left fielder Colby Roberts.
The Green and Gold seized control of the contest after plating three runs in the bottom half of the eighth, in which it gained a 9-8 advantage. In a pinch-hit situation, Shaver drove in Sarty on a one-out slicing single to left field for the Tribe's first run of the frame. With runners on first and second, Brown laid down a potential sacrifice bunt, but the Fredericksburg, Va., native reached base after the throw from the JMU third baseman was wide of the first baseman, which allowed Williams to score from second base as the Tribe knotted the contest at 8-8. Shaw followed and gave the Tribe a 9-8 lead after pushing across Shaver from third on a bunt down the third base line.
In the top of the ninth, JMU got a runner into scoring position with two outs. However, Wainman retired the next batter as the Tribe capped the come from behind victory.
The Tribe, who has now won five-straight over JMU, will try to secure the sweep over the Dukes for the second straight season tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. Fans can follow the action online at TribeAthletics.com with live audio and stats.
