WILMINGTON, N.C. – The William and Mary baseball team evened up its Colonial Athletic Association series at UNCW with a 5-1 victory on Friday night at Brooks field. After four scoreless innings of play, W&M struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. The Tribe extended its lead to 5-0 after plating a trio of runs in the top of the eighth en route to improving its overall record to 32-18 and CAA ledger to 15-8. The setback drops UNCW to 35-16 on the season and 16-6 in league action.
Senior RHP Brett Koehler (6-3) earned the victory after he allowed just one run in seven innings of work. The Glen Gardner, N.J., native fanned six batters, while scattering just seven hits in 30 batters faced. Senior LHP Matt Wainman worked two scoreless innings of relief as the Woodbridge, Va., native surrendered just one hit as he recorded the final six outs of the night.
At the plate, freshman catcher Ryan Hissey led the way with a 2-for-4 effort, which included two RBIs and a run scored. Junior second baseman Ryan Lindemuth finished the contest with a hit and a run batted in, while senior shortstop Ryan Williams recorded an RBI. Freshman left fielder Jonathan Sarty went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while senior center fielder Ryan Brown and sophomore first baseman Michael Katz recorded a hit and a run scored each. Junior third baseman Willie Shaw rounded out the offensive output with a run scored.
The contest was scoreless as play entered the top half of the fifth. However, W&M took a 2-0 lead after plating a pair of runs in the frame. With one out, Hissey and Sarty reached base on back-to-back singles. Hissey scored the night's first run after senior designated hitter Jackson Shaver reached base on a throwing error by the UNCW first baseman. Williams proceeded to plate Sarty with a fielder's choice to second base as the Green and Gold went ahead, 2-0.
Maintaining a 2-0 lead as play headed into the top of the eighth, the Tribe put the contest out of reach after putting up a three-spot. With one out, Brown reached base on a hit by the pitch. The Fredericksburg, Va., native reached second on a steal and third on a UNCW fielding error. Lindemuth went on to plate Brown with a single to through the middle of the infield as the Tribe extended its lead to 3-0. With Shaw on third and Katz on second, Hissey pushed across the duo with a single into right field as the Green and Gold pushed its cushion to 5-0.
UNCW posted a run in the bottom of the eighth as it cut the deficit to 5-1. However, the Seahawks' momentum was short lived as Wainman retired the UNCW side in order in the bottom of the ninth.
The series concludes tomorrow with the rubber match from Brooks Field scheduled for 4 p.m. Fans can follow the action online at TribeAthletics.com with live stats.
