KENNESAW, Ga. – The William and Mary baseball team scored in the last seven innings, but it wasn't enough to overcame an explosive Kennesaw State offense, falling 13-12 in 10 innings in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Tribe falls to 10-8, while the Owls improve to 11-10.
Freshman Ryan Hall led the Tribe going 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, three RBI, and three runs scored. Sophomore Tim Hoehn also collected four hits (three doubles) and drove in three runs. Six Tribe players turned in multi-hit games as W&M collected 16 hits in the contest.
W&M jumped on the board first with a run in the top of the second inning. With one out, Hall sparked the rally with a single to right, advancing to third on a double by Hoehn. The next batter, freshman Zach Newell reached on a fielder's choice, but it was enough to score Hall for the RBI. The run gave the Tribe an early 1-0 lead.
Kennesaw State stormed back for two runs in the home half of the second inning, taking the lead. Taylor Allum led off the inning with a single, moving to second on a groundout. The next batter, Chris McGowan walked before Grant Williams reached on an error loading the bases. Corey Greeson brought home two runs with a single down the right field line, giving the Owls a 2-1 lead.
The Tribe tied the game with a run in the top of the fourth inning. Senior Devin White led off the frame by being hit by a pitch, moving to third on a double by Hall. Newell loaded the bases, when he reached on an error. The next batter, freshman Cullen Large drove in the Tribe's run when he reached on a fielder's choice. The run tied the score at 2-2.
KSU scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to a grand-slam home run. With one out, McGowan started the inning with a single, moving to third on a double from Williams. A walk to Greeson loaded the bases, before Kal Simmons hit a grand-slam home run over the right field wall. The blast gave the Owls a 6-2 advantage.
The Green and Gold came right back and plated three runs in the top of the fifth inning, thanks to a two-out rally. Senior Willie Shaw started the threat with a walk, moving to third on a double from Devin White. The next batter, Hall singled clearing the bases. Hoehn continued the two-out rally with a double to center field, scoring Hall all the way from first.
W&M flashed the defense and cut down a run at the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, and runners on second and third, Williams flew out to right. What could have been a sac fly was halted when Newell gunned down the runner at home plate. The play preserved the score at 6-5 Owls.
The Tribe tied the score with another two-out run in the top of the sixth inning. Junior Ryan Hissey blasted a two-out homer over the right center field wall. His sixth homer of the season tied the score at 6-6.
W&M retook the lead with its fifth two-out run on the afternoon in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs, Hall continued his strong game with a double into right center. The next batter, Hoehn shot a single through the left side, plating Hall.
The Owls wasted little time and rallied back to take the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Allum led off the frame with a homer over the right field wall. The homer tied the score at 7-7. After an out, the rally continued when McGowan and Williams singled. The next batter, Greeson hit KSU's third-straight single, scoring McGowan. Simmons followed suit with a single through the right side, plating Williams. A wild pitch allowed for the fourth run of the inning to score, before the final run of the inning scored on a single from Colin Bennett, giving KSU an 11-7 advantage.
W&M continued to pick up runs with two outs, with three more in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs, Hissey drew a walk, moving to second on a wild pitch. The next batter, junior Charley Gould slapped a single through the right side, plating Hissey. The rally continued as Shaw walked and Devin White was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. The following batter, Hall was also plunked, which scored the Tribe's ninth run of the game. The third straight batter, Hoehn, was hit by a pitch, which cut the Owls lead to 11-10.
Again a two-out rally provided the Tribe with a spark in the top of the ninth inning. Large led off the frame with a double setting the table for the middle of the lineup. After two outs, Gould came through with a single into left field, scoring Large and tying the score.
W&M scored a run in the top of the 10th inning to take its third lead of the day. Devin White led off the fame with a single, being lifted for sophomore Porter Reinhart as a pinch runner. A sacrifice bunt from Hall moved Reinhart to second, before Hoehn doubled into center field scoring Reinhart and giving the Tribe a 12-11 lead.
However, the Owls played spoiler and won the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 10th inning. After an out, Allum singled to center, and his pinch runner Matt Mixon, moved the third on a single to right field by Justin Motley. A walk to McGowan loaded the bases. A Tribe fielding error allowed for Mixon to score, tying the score. The next batter, Helms singled to center field giving the Owls the 13-12 walk-off victory.
Sophomore Nick Brown made the start for the Green and Gold tossing five innings allowing six runs on seven hits. He struck out three batters. Senior Bryson Kauhaahaa was saddled with the loss, but didn't allow an earned run. He tossed 2.1 innings after pitching a scoreless inning yesterday. He recorded a pair of strikeouts in the outing.
The College and Kennesaw State conclude their series with game two of the doubleheader. First pitch comes in approximately 6:15 p.m.
