OXFORD, Miss. – The William and Mary baseball team split a doubleheader at Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi on Saturday afternoon. The Tribe took game one by a final score of 8-1, before the Rebels took game two 16-2. With the decisions, W&M now sits at 1-2, while Ole Miss is 2-1.
Sophomore Ryder Miconi led the Tribe in game one picking up a pair of hits, while driving in four of the Tribe's eight runs. Senior Willie Shaw (2), and juniors Ryan Hissey and Charley Gould had the Green and Gold's other four RBIs.
For the second straight day W&M struck for a run in the top of the second inning. With one out, sophomore Tim Hoehn singled up the middle, moving to second on a walk to freshman Ryan Hall. The next batter, Miconi doubled down the right field line brining home the game's first run, and giving the Tribe a 1-0 lead.
The Rebels wasted little time in responding and tied the score at 1-1 with a run in the bottom of the second. Henri Lartigue led off the inning with double down the right field line. Lartigue later moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on an RBI groundout from Austin Knight.
W&M exploded for six runs in the top of the fourth inning, taking a commanding 7-1 lead. Again Hoehn started the rally with a single, before Hall followed suit-putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Miconi continued his strong start to the day with a three-run blast over the right field wall. The rally restarted when sophomore Porter Reinhart and freshman Zach Newell walked. The next batter, freshman Cullen Large reached on an error, loading the bases. A walk to Shaw brought home the Tribe's fourth run of the inning. Back-to-back sacrifice flies from Hissey and Gould lifted the Green and Gold to its 7-1 lead.
The College struck for another run in the top of the sixth inning. Newell reached on an error, moving to second a sacrifice bunt from Large. Shaw came through with a one-out double down the left field line, pushing the lead to 8-1
Sophomore Nick Brown picked up his first win of the season in the first game. He tossed 6.1 innings, allowing just one run on five hits. Freshman Michael Toner, who made his collegiate debut, was equally as impressive for the Tribe. Entering with the bases loaded and one out, Toner got a double play and then went on to pitch a perfect two innings to help the Tribe to victory.
In game two the Tribe couldn't over come a seven-run bottom of the third inning falling to Ole Miss, 16-2. The Rebels had 18 hits, and scored in all but two innings, as they were able to win the rubber match of the series.
Senior Devin White led the Tribe offensively in game two, picking up two hits and the Tribe's only two RBIs.
For the first time in the series Ole Miss scored first, tacking on a run in the first inning of game two. J.B. Woodman doubled into left field, before Errol Robinson followed suit with a double, giving the Rebs an early 1-0 lead.
The Rebels struck for seven runs in the bottom of the third inning to take an 8-0 lead. Cameron Dishon led off the inning with an infield single moving to second on a stolen base, and then to third on a sacrifce bunt by Woodman. Another infield single from Robinson plated Dishon for the first run of the frame. Lartigue singled through right side, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Sikes Orvis followed with a single, brining around Robinson. Hits from Colby Bortles, Holt Perdzock, Kyle Watson, and Josh Watkins provided the next four runs of the inning.
Ole Miss added its ninth run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Robinson led off the inning with a double, moving to third on a fly out. With two outs, Bortles singled, making the score 9-0.
The Tribe scored a pair of runs in the top half of the fifth inning. Gould led off the frame with an infield single, moving to third on a double from Hall. With one out, Devin White singled into left field, bringing home both runs, while cutting the Rebels lead to 9-2.
The Rebels got one of the runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Watson led off the frame by getting hit by a pitch. With two outs, Woodman doubled into left field, allowing Watson to score all the way from first.
Ole Miss put two more runs up in the home half of the sixth inning. Lartigue led of the frame with a single, moving to second on a walk to Orvis. With two outs, Will Golsan singled into center field, plating Lartigue. The final run of the frame came around on a wild pitch, giving the Rebels a 12-2 advantage.
The offensive rally continued for the Rebels in the bottom of the seventh inning, adding four runs. Woodman started the inning with a double to right center field. Robinson followed with a single brining around Woodman. On the single, Robinson reached third on a Tribe throwing error. A walk to Nic Perkins put runners on the corners with nobody out. With an out, Bortles hit a three-run shot to left center field to account for the final three runs of the frame.
Bradley Bramlett got the win for the Rebels. He tossed six innings allowing two runs on four hits. Junior starting pitcher Mitchell Aker was handed the loss for the Tribe.
The College opens a 15-game home stand, which is the longest home stand in school history, on Tuesday, Feb. 15 when they welcome in state rival VMI to Plumeri Park. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
