WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary baseball team plated 14 runs over the first five innings and cruised to a 14-6 Colonial Athletic Association series opening victory over Hofstra on Friday night at Plumeri Park. With the win the Tribe evens its record at 11-11 improving to 3-1 in CAA play, while the Pride drop to 5-22, 0-1 in league action.
 
Junior Charles Ameer and freshman Hunter Smith led the Tribe with four hits apiece, while they each finished a leg short of they cycle. Freshman Kyle Wrighte had three hits as well for W&M. All but one starter had an RBI for the Tribe, but Ameer led the charge with four RBI, while Wrighte added three RBI.
 
Hofstra struck first with a two-out double in the top of the first inning. Steven Foster started the rally with a one-out single. After an out, Mat Annunziata doubled into left centerfield, scoring Foster all the way from first.
 
William & Mary wasted little time and scored two runs in its first chance at the plate. Ameer led off the frame with a double. After an out, back-to-back doubles from sophomore Ryan Hall and senior Charley Gould gave the Tribe a 2-1 advantage.
 
The Pride tacked on two more runs in the top of the second inning regaining the lead. Teddy Cillis led of the frame with a homer over the left centerfield wall. After an out, Kevin O'Conner walked. The next batter, Brad Witkowsi doubled off of the left centerfield wall, scoring O'Conner all the way from first. With runners on the corners, starting pitcher junior Daniel Powers induced a double play, preventing any further damage. 
 
W&M retied the score with a run in the home half of the second. Wrighte singled up the middle and then manufactured a run on the base paths. Wrighte stole second, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Green and Gold took advantage of two Pride miscues and turned it into a big inning in the bottom of the third. Gould led off the frame reaching on an error. After an out, Hunter Smith singled. Junior Tim Hoehn grounded out, which could have been a double play, but an errant throw allowed for Gould to score. The rally continued with a double from Wrighte allowed for Smith to score. A sacrifice fly by senior Josh Smith followed by a single from Ameer put the Tribe up 7-3.
 
W&M's offense continued to show off with five more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Gould, Hunter Smith, and junior Tim Hohen singled loading the bases. The fourth single of the single from Wrighte brought in the first two runs of the inning. After an out, Ameer launched a homer over the right field wall. His third homer of the season lifted the Tribe to a 12-3 lead. 
 
The offense continued its rally with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hall led off the inning with a hit by pitch. A single from junior Cullen Large allowed for Hall to score. Hunter Smith followed with a triple, pushing the lead to 14-3.

Hofstra got back on the board with two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Three straight singles from David Leiderman, Cillis, and Nick Bottari scored the first run of the frame. A sacrifice fly from Witkowski cut the Tribe lead to 14-5.
 
The Pride added an unearned run in the top of the ninth inning. The Tribe made an error on what would have been the last out of the game, and then Annunziata doubled making the final deficit 14-6.
 
Powers was credited with his third win of the season. He tossed six innings allowing five runs on 10 hits, while adding a pair of strikeouts. Sophomore Michal Toner pitched the remainder of the contest and earned his first save of the season. He allowed one unearned run on four hits with a strikeout during the final three frames.
 
Starting pitcher Alec Eisenberg was saddled with his fifth loss for Hofstra. He went 2.2 innings allowing seven runs (three earned) on nine hits with two strikeouts. Offensively, Leiderman led the Pride with three hits, while Annunziata, Cillis, and Bottari each collected two. Annunziata picked up two RBI as well for HU.
 
The College continues its series with Hofstra tomorrow, Saturday, March 26. First pitch of the game is set for 4 p.m. Prior to tomorrow's game, children 10 and under can participate in a pregame Easter Egg Hunter starting around 3 p.m. Tomorrow's matchup will also be streamed live and for free on TribeAthleticsTV. The series is finale is set for Sunday, March 27 with a 1 p.m. first pitch.