TOWSON, Md. – The William and Mary baseball team dropped its Colonial Athletic Association series opener at Towson, 12-4, on Friday afternoon from Schuerholz Park. The Tigers raced out of the gates early as it built a 5-0 lead after two innings of play en route to the win. The setback drops the Green and Gold to 20-11 overall and 5-2 in CAA action, while Towson improves to 14-15 on the season and 6-4 in league play.
At the plate, senior center fielder Ryan Brown led the way with a 2-for-4 effort, which included two RBIs. Senior shortstop Ryan Williams tallied an RBI and a hit to go along with two runs scored. Freshman left fielder Jonathan Sarty finished the afternoon with a run batted in on one hit. Junior left fielder Willie Shaw went 2-for-3, while designated hitter Charley Gould registered a hit and a run scored. Junior second baseman Ryan Lindemuth and sophomore first baseman Michael Katz each finished the contest with a hit.
Senior RHP Brett Koehler (3-3) took the loss after allowing five earned runs in 2.1 innings of work. Junior RHP John Sheehan and freshmen RHP's Mitchell Aker, Joseph Gaouette along with LHP Andrew White all saw action in relief appearances.
Towson got off to a fast start on Friday afternoon as it plated four runs in the opening frame. Only two of the runs were earned as junior Dominic Fratantuno highlighted the four-spot with a single down the left field line, which plated a pair as TU went ahead, 2-0.
The Tigers added to its advantage with a run in the second inning as junior Pat Fitzgerald gave Towson a 5-0 cushion with an RBI single to left field.
W&M scored a run in the top half of the third as it cut the deficit down to 5-1. With one out, Williams reached base on a throwing error by the TU shortstop, which allowed the Fairfax, Va., native to reach second. After the second out of the inning was recorded, Sarty plated Williams with a single through the middle of the infield.
In the bottom half, TU responded with two runs as it opened up a 7-1 lead. Sophomore Peter Bowles led the inning off with a solo home run to left field, while junior Hunter Bennett gave the Tigers a six-run margin with an RBI sacrifice bunt.
The Tigers went on to plate a pair of runs in both the fourth and seventh, while tacking on a run in the eighth as its lead extended to 12-1.
In the top of the ninth, the Green and Gold plated a trio of runs, all on two outs. Williams' single to left field, which plated Gould ignited the three–run frame. Following a walk and a TU fielding error, Brown's double down the left field line pushed across the Tribe's third and fourth runs of the contest. With the bases loaded and with the momentum in its favor, Towson ended the threat as Katz's line drive to center field, which was headed towards the gap, landed in the glove of Towson's center fielder.
The series continues tomorrow at Schuerholz Park with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. Fans can follow the action online at TribeAthletics.com with live stats.
