WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William and Mary baseball team rallied, but its comeback attempt came up just short, as it fell to visiting Longwood, 9-7, on Wednesday night at Plumeri Park. The loss halts William and Mary's season-long six-game winning streak. The Tribe falls to 14-6 with the decision, while Longwood improves to 12-10 overall.
Senior Kevin Nutter led the Tribe's offensive effort going 4-for-5, while sophomore Josh Smith finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Junior Michael Katz added two hits, two runs, and two RBIs.
For the eighth straight game William and Mary scored in the first inning, striking for three runs. Junior Nick Thompson led off the frame with a walk, moving to second on a one out walk by senior Ryan Lindemuth. The next batter Katz roped a double to the centerfield wall, scoring both Thompson and Lindemuth. A single form Nutter, put runners on the corners with one out. A Longwood error, allowed for Katz to score the Tribe's third run of the inning.
Longwood cut the Tribe lead to one run in the top of the third inning. C.J. Roth led off the inning with a double to centerfield. With two outs, Kyri Washington belted a pitch over the rightfield wall for a two-run homer, and made the score 3-2.
The Lancers took the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Scott Burkett singled to start the Longwood rally. Alex Lewis doubled to right field, and a Tribe error allowed Burkett to score all the way from first. After Roth walked, Mac McCafferty roped a single down the leftfield line, scoring Lewis and giving Longwood a 4-3 lead.
Washington led off the top of the fifth inning with his second home run of the game. The following batter Brandon Delk tripled, continuing the Lancer rally. Delk came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Burkett.
Longwood added another run in the top of the sixth inning. Alex Lewis led off the inning with a single, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Roth. McCafferty followed with a single, plating Lewis and giving the Lancers a 7-3 lead.
The Tribe responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Smith started the rally with a single. After an out, freshman Tim Hoehn doubled to centerfield, scoring Smith all the way from first and cutting the Lancer lead to 7-4.
Longwood got the run back in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Owens doubled down the leftfield line. The next batter Burkett singled back up the middle, scoring Owens and giving the Lancers an 8-4 lead.
W&M added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, cutting the lead to 8-7. Lindemuth led off the inning with a walk, followed by back-to-back singles by Katz and Nutter, loading the bases. The next batter, sophomore Charley Gould singled to rightfield, scoring Lindemuth. Smith followed with a double down the leftfield line scoring Katz and Nutter and cutting the score to one run.
Brandon Delk led off the top of the ninth inning with a home run over the rightfield wall. The blast lifted the Lancers to a 9-7 advantage.
Freshman Nick Brown made the start for the Green and Gold going 3.2 innings, allowing four runs. He was saddled with his first loss of the season. Longwood's Devin Gould threw 4.1 innings, scattering four hits and one run, with seven strikeouts. Gould earned his first win of the season for the Lancers. Blake Ream pitched two scoreless inning, allowing one hit, and three strikeouts to pick up his first save of the season.
The College continues its season-long 10-game home stand against a pair of teams this weekend. W&M will host UMass Lowell on Friday, March 21 at 7 p.m. They will also welcome Brown to Plumeri Park for games on Saturday, March 22 and Monday, March 24.
