WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary offense scored early and often as they shot out to a 12-1 advantage, before holding on for a 12-8 victory over Richmond on Tuesday night at Plumeri Park. With the win the Tribe improves to 10-11, while Richmond drops to 12-9.
 
Senior Josh Smith, junior Charles Ameer as well as freshmen Zach Pearson and Kyle Wrighte all had two hits leading the offense. Junior Cullen Large tied a career-high with four RBI on a grand-slam, while freshman Hunter Smith drove in three with one swing of the bat.
 
Richmond jumped on the board in the visitor's half of the first inning. Tyler Beckwith led off the game with a walk, advancing to third on a stolen base and an errant throw. After an out, a Michael Moorman grounded out, but it was enough to give the Spiders a 1-0 lead.
 
The Tribe got on the scoreboard with six runs in the bottom of the second inning. Wrighte reached on a fielder's choice, before moving to third on a single from Josh Smith. Three straight walks to Ameer, junior Ryder Miconi, and sophomore Ryan Hall scored the first two runs. The next batter, Large lined a grand-slam over the right field wall, giving W&M a 6-1 lead.
 
W&M added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Pearson led off the frame with a single, moving to second when Wrighte was hit by a pitch. A Spider error moved the runners up 90 feet. Josh Smith singled up the middle scoring Pearson. The next batter, Ameer flew out to center, but it was enough to plate Josh Smith and give the Tribe an 8-1 lead.
 
The Green and Gold tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fourth, three of which came on the help of the long ball. Two free passes to senior Charley Gould and Large started the inning. Hunter Smith, followed, belting his first collegiate homer over the left wall. After an out, Wrighte singled restarting the rally. A double from Ameer brought in the fourth run of the inning, and moved the score to 12-1.
 
Richmond plated a run in the top of the fifth inning. Beckwith reached on a one-out double. With two outs, Doug Kraeger singled to left, cutting the deficit to 12-2.
 
The Spiders didn't go away and added two more runs in the top of the eighth inning. Three doubles from Kraeger, Caleb Ward, and Zach Kurtz shrunk the lead to 12-4.
 
UofR rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth, to shorten the gap to four. Kyle Adams, Ward, and Matthew Straight all had RBI in the rally.
 
Freshman starting pitcher Bodie Sheehan picked up his first collegiate win in the game. He tossed five innings allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with two strikeouts. Classmate Kinston Carson also got some extended work going three innings allowing two runs on three hits with four K's.
Sean Collins was saddled with the loss for Richmond. He tossed 1.1 innings allowing four runs on three hits. Kraeger led the way for the Spiders with three hits, while Ward drove in two runs.
 
The Green and Gold continue their seven-game homestand with its second Colonial Athletic Association series against Hofstra. The series gets underway on Friday, March 25 at 6 p.m., game two will be Saturday, March 26 at 4 p.m., before the series concludes on Sunday, March 27 at 1 p.m.