WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Freshman Hunter Smith drove in a career-high six runs as the William & Mary baseball team used three, four-run innings to take a Colonial Athletic Association series with a 15-10 victory over Hofstra on Saturday afternoon at Plumeri Park. With the win, the Tribe improves to 12-11, 4-1 in CAA play, while the Pride drops to 5-18, 0-2 in league action.
 
The Tribe combined for 17 hits in the contest, one off their season-high, and all but one starter had a base hit. Hunter Smith finished the game going 3-for-4 with two doubles to go along with his career-high in RBIs. Junior Charles Ameer complied his second straight four-hit day, while sophomore Ryan Hall had three hits. Senior Charley Gould and junior Tim Hoehn also collected multi-hit games.
 
For the second straight game, Hofstra took an early lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. Ryan Karl led off the inning with a double. After an out, a Tribe error put runners on the corners. The next batter, Mat Annunziata belted a homer over the right field wall giving Hofstra a 3-0 lead.
 
The Tribe got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore Cullen Large led off the inning with a walk moving to second on a single from Hunter Smith. After an out, freshman Kyle Wrighte singled scoring Large from second, but an error in the outfield allowed for Hunter Smith and Wrighte to move up 90 feet. The next batter, senior Josh Smith skied a fly out to centerfield but it was deep enough to score Hunter Smith and cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
Teddy Cillis extended the Pride's lead back to two runs with one swing of the bat. He launched a two-out homer over the right field wall in the top of the third inning.
 
W&M took its first lead of the afternoon with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Junior Ryder Miconi led off the rally by reaching on an error, and moving to second on a single from Hall. A walk to Gould loaded the bases, before Large tied the score with a double. A sacrifice fly from Hunter Smith gave the Tribe its first lead of the afternoon, before Hoehn singled making the score 6-4.
 
The Pride responded with its third homer and took advantage of a Tribe miscue regaining the lead in the visitor's half of the fourth. Nick Bottari led of the top of the fourth inning with a homer over the left field fence. After an out, back-to-back singles from Karl and Foster, and a hit by a pitch to Annunziata loaded the basses. Freshman reliever Bodie Sheehan got a groundball but an error allowed for two runs to score, making the score 7-6.
 
For the second time in the game, W&M rallied to regain the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ameer led off the inning with a hustle double followed by a walk to Miconi. The next batter, Hall singled to right scoring Ameer. Gould followed suit to regain the lead for the Tribe. After an out, Hunter Smith cleared the bases with a double down the left field line.
 
Hofstra rallied with three consecutive walks that loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. The fourth consecutive walk of the inning to Karl brought in the first run of the inning. Another Pride walk this time to Foster cut the lead to one.
 
The Tribe rallied right back for four runs of its own in the bottom of the seventh inning. After an out, back-to-back singles from Ameer and Miconi and a walk to Hall loaded the bases. Gould followed with a single into right field to start the scoring.  After an out, Hunter Smith cleared the bases again as he a shot a double down the left field line, giving the Tribe a 14-10 advantage.
 
Hofstra again took advantage of another bases loaded walk in the top of the eighth inning. The run cut the gap to 14-10. This time, senior reliever Joseph Gaouette was able to get out of the jam with a lineout.
 
The Tribe plated an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Wrighte led off the frame with a walk, moving to third on a one-out single from Ameer. Hall came through with another single, making the lead 15-10.
 
Senior starting pitcher Mitchell Aker didn't factor into the decision. He tossed 3.1 innings allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits with one strikeout. Sheehan picked up his second win of the week, this time in relief. He tossed 3.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on a hit, with two strikeouts. Gaouette was credited with his fifth save of the season, getting out of bases loaded jam in the eighth and pitching a scoreless ninth.
 
John Rooney was saddled with the loss for the Pride. He tossed two innings allowing four runs on five hits. Offensively, Annunziata, Karl, and Bottari all had multiple hit games, while Annunziata drove in three runs.
 
The Green and Gold will go for the series sweep in the final tomorrow, Sunday, March 27. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.