HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The William and Mary Tribe baseball team poured in a season-high 21 runs on 20 hits on its way to a 21-12 series clinching victory over Hofstra on Sunday afternoon at Mitchel Field. Every Tribe starter recorded at least one hit in the game. With the win, the Green and Gold improves to 10-5, 2-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while the Pride drops to 3-8, 1-2 in league action.
Aside from every Tribe starter getting a hit, six players recorded a multi-hit game. Junior Ryan Hissey led the bunch, going 4-for-7 with five RBI, two home runs, and three runs scored. Juniors Charley Gould and Josh Smith, along with freshman Cullen Large each had three hit days. Smith drove in four runs, while Large and Gould drove in three apiece. Large also moved his hitting streak to 12-games with his leadoff single in the top of the first inning.
W&M jumped on the scoreboard in the first inning with a pair of runs. Large led off the game with an infield single. With two outs, Gould walked, putting runners on first and second, before a wild pitch moved both runners up 90 feet. The next batter, senior Willie Shaw doubled into right filed, bringing home both Large and Gould. The runs put the Tribe up 2-0.
Hofstra came right back and scored a run in the home half of the first. Dalton Rouleau led off the inning with a single to left field, moving to third on a single from Mat Annunziata. A fielder's choice from Brett Johnson allowed Rouleu to score, cutting W&M's lead to 2-1.
The Tribe rallied for a four-run inning in the top of the second inning. With one out, freshman Zach Newell and Large walked setting the table for the middle of the lineup. Smith followed with a double to left center scoring Newell. Following an out, Gould smashed a home run over the right field wall, giving the Green and Gold a 6-1 lead.
Hofstra matched the Tribe's second inning with four runs of its own. With two outs, Foster reached second on a Tribe error. A single from Rouleau put runners on the corners, before Annunziata doubled down the right field line, clearing the bases. The following batter, Johnson, blasted a homer over the right field wall, cutting the Tribe lead to 6-5.
The Green and Gold exploded for five more runs in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Newell and Large started the rally with a pair of walks. The next batter, Smith, hit a ground-rule double, scoring Newell. Hissey continued the rally with a home run to right field. Gould restarted the Tribe's rally with a double to right field, followed by a walk to Shaw. Freshman Ryan Hall then shot a single up the middle, bringing home the fifth run of the inning, giving W&M an 11-5 advantage.
Hofstra continued to fight back and added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Ryan Donovoan, Brian MacDonald, and Brad Witkowski all reached loading the bases. The Pride scored a pair of runs on fielder's choices, cutting the Tribe lead to 11-7.
W&M answered with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, taking a six run lead. Sophomore Matthew Tilley led off the inning with a single starting the rally. After two outs, Smith continued his strong day with a double to right center, scoring Tilley all the way from first. Hissey followed with a single through the right side, plating Smith. The runs pushed W&M to a 13-7 lead.
The Tribe added three more in the top of the fifth inning. Hall started the rally by reaching on an error and stealing second base. Sophomore Tim Hoehn followed with a double to right field, putting runners on second and third. Another Pride error allowed for the first run of the frame to score, before Large hit a double to right field, clearing the bases and pushing W&M's lead to 16-7.
For the fourth time in the game the Pride added a run by way of a fielder's choice. Annunziata got credit for the RBI this time when he grounded to second. The run cut the lead to 16-8.
W&M continued its offensive onslaught as Hissey homered for the second time in the game in the top of the sixth inning. The solo shot pushed the Tribe lead to 17-8.
The Green and Gold added three more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Hoehn led of the inning with a double to left field, before Tilley reached on a hit by a pitch. Newell followed with a single through the right side, before Large followed suit with a single bringing in two more runs. Smith drove in his fourth RBI of the day with a groundout. The run gave W&M a 20-8 lead.
Hofstra fought back for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Foster singled up the middle, before Annunziata homered to right field, cutting the Tribe lead to 20-10.
The Green and Gold added another a run in the top of the ninth inning. Hissey started the rally with a single, before Gould followed suit, putting runners on the corners. After an out, Hall singled through the right side, giving the Tribe a 21-10 lead.
Hofstra didn't go away quietly and scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Annunziata continued his strong day - driving and a run along with Russo, who did so with a sacrifice fly.
Freshman Charlie Fletcher earned his second victory of the season in relief. He tossed 2.1 innings, allowing just one run. The Tribe used five pitchers in the game, including Mitchell Aker, who made the start, but earned a no-decision.
W&M continued a nearly year stretch of Sunday victories, moving its streak to 13 games in a row on Sunday. The Tribe has already won five Sunday games this season.
The 21 run outburst was the most of the season for the Tribe, who have scored double-digits four times, including the last two games. The runs were the most in a game, since W&M scored 24 at James Madison on April 13, 2014.
W&M returns to Plumeri Park for a game on Wednesday, March 18 when they host UConn. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. W&M continues non-conference play when they travel to Kennesaw State for a three-game set this weekend.
