NORFOLK, Va. – The William and Mary baseball team dropped a 20-5 decision to Old Dominion at the Bud Metheny Complex in Norfolk on Wednesday night. The game was apart of the annual Optima Health Challenge between Old Dominion and William and Mary, with the win Old Dominion was awarded five points in the total standings. With the loss, the Tribe falls to 18-9, while the Monarchs improve to 17-12.
Junior Nick Thompson led the Tribe offense, going 3-for-5 with a double, homer, and an RBI. Classmate Michael Katz finished the day with two hits and a pair of RBIs.
The Tribe plated a run in the first inning for the 14th time this season. Thompson led off the game with a solo shot over the left field wall. Thompson's eighth homer of the year gave the Tribe a 1-0 lead.
W&M added two runs in the top of the third inning. Freshman Tim Hoehn led off the inning with a double down the left field line, moving to third on a fly out. Senior Kevin Casey roped a single into left, with one out, scoring Hoehn. With two outs, junior Michael Katz doubled down the left field line, scoring Casey and giving the Tribe a 3-0 advantage.
Old Dominion battled back, and took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Tyler Urps led off the inning with a walk, moving to third on a single from Nick Walker. The next batter, Jordan Negrini doubled off the left field wall, clearing the bases. Ben Slaton followed by reaching on an error. After an out, P.J. Higgins doubled down the left field line, scoring both runners, and giving the Monarchs a 4-3 lead. Taylor Ostrich followed with a single into right, bringing around Higgins. The next batter, Urps singled into left field, plating Perez. Walker followed with a two-run homer over the left field wall, giving ODU a 9-3 lead.
The Monarchs added three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Josiah Burney reached on a one-out walk, followed by back-to-back singles from Ostrich and Higgins, loading the bases. A single from Josh Eldridge brought in two Monarchs. The final run of the frame, came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Perez, giving ODU a 12-3 lead.
William and Mary struck for two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Three straight singles from Hoehn, Thompson, and Casey loaded the bases, starting the inning. A bases loaded walk to senior Ryan Lindemuth brought home the first run of the inning. The next batter, Katz grounded into a fielder's choice, but it was enough to plate Thompson, making the score 12-5.
ODU answered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Walker led off the inning with a double, followed by Negrini reaching on a hit by a pitch. The next batter, Ben Slaton brought Walker around on a base hit. Burney followed suite with a single that scored Negrini. A double from Slaton followed, scoring both runners for the Monarchs.
The Monarchs added four more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Old Dominion loaded the bases with two outs, scoring the first three runs on a hit by a pitch and a two-RBI single by Brett Harris. The final run of the inning came in on a RBI single from Higgins.
Old Dominion's reliever Brad Gero tossed two innings of relief with a pair of strikeouts to earn his third win of the season. The loss was charged to William and Mary's junior Bryson Kauhaahaa.
The College returns to action with a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series at Plumeri Park against UNCW, starting on Friday, April 4. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
