WILMINGTON, N.C. – The William and Mary baseball team dropped a Colonial Athletic Association series opener at UNCW 10-1 on Friday night. With the decision, the Tribe drops to 14-16, 5-4 in CAA action, while the Seahawks improve to 23-8, 6-1 in league action.
Junior Charley Gould, sophomore Tim Hoehn, and freshman Cullen Large each had multi-hit games for the Tribe, who had seven hits as a team. Hoehn hit his first homer of the season in the top of the second inning, accounting for the Tribe's lone RBI
UNCW opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Steven Linkous started the rally with a bunt single, moving to second on a walk to Brian Mims. After Mims was picked off of first, Linkous reached third on a wild pitch. A Tribe error allowed for Linkous to score, giving UNCW a 1-0 lead.
W&M took advantage of its power and used a home run in the top of the second inning to tie the score. With one out, Hoehn lifted a homer over the left field wall, tying the score 1-1.
The Seahawks retook the lead in the home half of the second. Luke Dunlap singled to right field, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Terence Connelly. After Dunlap advanced to third on a wild pitch, he scored on a RBI sacrifice fly by Nick Feight, who reached first on a Tribe error.
UNCW extended its lead with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kennard McDowell started the inning with a single, moving to second on a single by Linkous. Mims singled through the left side, scoring McDowell. A groundout allowed for Linkous to score, before Dunlap doubled, and Connelly reached on a throwing error scoring the third and fourth run of the inning. The rally extended the Seahawk lead to 6-1.
The Seahawks continued to build its lead with another run in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, McDowell started the rally with a single to left field, moving to second on a groundout. Mims followed with a single, putting runners on the corners, before a wild pitch allowed for McDowell to score, giving the UNCW a 7-1 lead.
UNCW scored two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Dunlap started the rally by getting hit by a pitch, moving to second on a single by Connelly. With two outs, Shields tripled to left center, giving the Hawks a 9-1 lead.
The Seahawks scored their 10th run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Linkous led off the inning with a solo shot over the left field wall, making the score 10-1.
Despite scoring just one run, W&M had multiple chances cut into the deficit. The Tribe left 11 runners on base in the contest.
Senior Jason Inghram made the start for the Tribe and was saddled with his fifth loss of the season. Inghram tossed five innings allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits. He had five strikeouts in the game.
The College and the Seahawks continued their three-game series tomorrow, Saturday, April 11 at 2 p.m. The set concludes on Sunday, April 12. First pitch of the finale is set for 2 p.m.
