BLACKSBURG, Va. – The William and Mary baseball team used two three-run innings to earn a 7-0 victory against in-state rival Virginia Tech on Wednesday afternoon at English Field in Blacksburg. Freshmen Nick Brown and Daniel Powers, as well as sophomore Joseph Gaouette, combined to post the shutout. With the win, the Tribe improves to 7-4 and extends its winning streak to four games, while Tech falls to 6-4 overall.
W&M opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the second inning. Junior Charley Gould led off the inning with a double, while freshman Tim Hoehn singled and junior Nick Thompson walked to load the bases. The next batter, senior Willie Shaw, sent a fly ball to centerfield that was deep enough to score Gould on a sacrifice fly. After senior Ryan Lindemuth was hit by a pitch, junior Michael Katz singled, plating both Hoehn and Thompson, to give the Tribe an early 3-0 advantage.
The Tribe extended its lead with three more runs in the top fourth inning. Thompson led off the inning with a solo homer, pushing the Tribe's advantage to 4-0. Shaw and Lindemuth each walked and later advanced to second and third on a groundout. With one out, senior Kevin Nutter grounded out to short, allowing to Shaw to score. Classmate Kevin Casey followed with a single, plating Lindemuth to give the Tribe a 6-0 advantage.
W&M tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning. Senior Derek Lowe drew a two-out walk and Hoehn followed with an RBI triple.
Brown, who started the game for the Tribe, had the best outing of his young career. En route to earning his second win of the season, he worked 6.2 innings and scattered four hits with three strikeouts. Powers came on to throw the next 1.1 innings for the Tribe, allowing just one hit. Gaouette closed the victory with a perfect ninth inning and a strike out. Virginia Tech's Matt Tulley was charged with the loss.
W&M recorded its first shutout of the season, and it was the first time the squad has blanked an opposing team since May 5, 2013 when the Green and Gold beat Hofstra, 14-0.
Offensively, Thompson led the way going 2-for-2 with a home run and two runs scored. Gould and Hoehn each finished the game with a pair of hits.
The Green and Gold returns to action and continues its road trip when it opens a three-game series at Campbell on Friday, March 7. The first pitch of the series is set for 5 p.m.
