HARRISONBURG, Va. (April 12, 2014)—The William and Mary baseball team fell at James Madison, 9-8, in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday evening.
W&M (21-13, 5-2) owned an 8-6 lead as the teams headed to the bottom of the ninth inning, but JMU (12-20, 4-3) rallied back with three runs in the final frame.
LHP Michael Evans (2-0) earned the victory in relief, while RHP Kevin Casey (2-2) suffered the loss.
Designated hitter Ryan Hissey led the Tribe offensively and went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Catcher Devin White also came up big and went 3-for-4 with a RBI, while centerfielder Derek Lowe scored twice and drove in a run.
Although JMU jumped out to an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning, W&M answered with two runs in the top of the second. A two-out double by shortstop Tim Hoehn got things started, and Lowe followed with a RBI single to center field. After Lowe stole second, first baseman Kevin Nutter platted him with a double to left.
The Dukes reclaimed the lead with four unanswered runs, three in the fourth inning and one in the fifth, to go ahead, 5-2. However, a two-run home run by Hissey in the top of the sixth narrowed the margin to 5-4. It was Hissey's third home run of the season and came of a 2-0 offering after second baseman Ryan Lindemuth opened the frame with an infield single.
W&M rallied back with two runs in the eighth to go back ahead, 6-5. After Hissey recorded a one-out double to left field, Casey drove in the tying run with a double to left center. White then followed with a single up the middle to plate the go-ahead score.
Although JMU tied the contest with a run in the bottom half of the frame, the Tribe answered with two runs in the top of the ninth to lead, 8-6. Lowe led off the frame with a walk, and Josh Smith followed with a bunt single. After Nick Thompson walked to load the bases, Michael Katz recorded an RBI single to right center. Lindemuth was then hit by a pitch to bring in the second run of the inning.
The Dukes rallied back in their half of the frame, however, as Conner Brown plated a pair of runs with a double to left and Kyle Weston drove in the winning run with a two-out single to left.
The teams will close out the series on Sunday at 2 p.m.
