WILMINGTON, N.C. – For the second straight season the William and Mary Tribe baseball team advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship game. The Tribe accomplished that feat with a 12-6 victory over No. 3-seeded UNCW on their home field in an elimination game. With the win, the Green and Gold improved to 34-21, while the Seahawks fall to 30-27.
Four Tribe players collected multi-hit games in the victory, while senior Derek Lowe collected three hits. Meanwhile the Green and Gold had three players collect multi-RBI games, including junior Michael Katz had three RBIs, while setting a new school RBI record in the process.
William and Mary opened the scoring with six runs in the top of the second inning. Sophomores Ryan Hissey and Charley Gould as well as Lowe all reached on walks, loading the bases. The first run came in on a bases loaded walk to senior Kevin Casey. After two outs, senior Kevin Nutter was hit by a pitch brining in the second run. The Tribe's first hit was a two-RBI double from junior Nick Thompson. The final two runs came in a bases clearing single from Katz, giving the Tribe a 6-0 advantage.
For the second straight inning the Tribe batted around, and added four runs in the top of the third inning. Lowe led off the inning with a double down the left field line, moving to third on groundout. Sophomore Josh Smith poked a one-out single into center field, scoring Lowe. Smith moved to second on a stolen base. With two outs, Nutter doubled down the left field line, brining around Smith. A two-out walk to Thompson continued the inning, putting runners on first and second. The next batter, Katz dropped a single into center field, plating Nutter. Thompson came around to score on a wild pitch, pushing the Tribe to a 10-0 lead.
UNCW got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ryan LaGrange led off the inning with a single, moving to second on a single by Teddy Cillis. After a strikeout and a walk that loaded the bases, Dillon Bass sent a fly ball into right field, but it was deep enough for a sacrifice fly, cutting the Tribe lead to 10-1.
The Seahawks continued their comeback effort with a pair runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Terrance Connelly singled to start the inning, moving to second on a Tribe error. The next batter, Corey Dick singled into right that scored a run, but he was gunned down trying to advance to second. LaGrange followed with a sacrifice fly to right, making the score 10-3.
UNCW added another run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Drew Farber and Josh Abshire reached on walks. The Tribe was able to turn a 4-6-3 double play, but an infield single by Casey Golden cut the lead to 10-4.
The Green and Gold got two runs back in the top of the eighth inning. Katz led off the inning with a walk, moving to second on a single from Hissey. The next batter, Gould singled into right field, plating Katz and putting runners on the corners. Lowe followed with a single into left field, bringing around Hissey.
UNCW added two more runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Farber led off the inning with a single, moving to second on a catcher's indifference and to third on a passed ball. He later came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Gavin Stupienksi. The final run of the game came in on a single by Connelly.
Freshman Nick Brown made the start, tossing six innings allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits. He had four strikeouts, while he picked up his fifth victory of the season. Sophomore Andrew White tossed two innings, allowing one run on two hits, while freshman John Yoest pitched the ninth allowing two runs on two hits.
It was the 19th time this season, and second time in the CAA Tournament that the Tribe scored in double-figures. The College improves to 18-1 in games when they score 10, or more, runs. The William and Mary defense turned four double plays in the game, which is tied for the second most in a CAA Tournament contest.
With his three RBIs in the game, Katz has the new W&M single-season record. At game's end he has 75 total RBIs.
William and Mary will advance to the CAA Championship for the second straight season, and will face the No. 2-seed College of Charleston Cougars. The Tribe will have to win two games to claim the title. The first game will come at 1 p.m. with a possible second game coming approximately an hour after the conclusion of first.
