WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary baseball team dropped a 12-5 mid-week decision to VCU on Wednesday night at Plumeri Park. With the loss, the Tribe falls to 15-17, while the Rams improve to 22-12.
 
VCU jumped on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning. Haiden Lamb started the game with a single to right, moving to second on a stolen base and to third on an error. With one out, Darian Carpenter singled into left, giving The Rams the early 1-0 lead.
 
W&M took its first lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore Cullen Large led off the inning with a single, moving to second on a walk to junior Ryder Miconi. The next batter, junior Tim Hoehn smoked a double down the left line scoring the first run. Freshmen Kyle Wrighte and Hunter Smith followed with productive outs, giving the Tribe its first lead at 3-1.
 
The Rams responded with three runs in the top of the third inning. Logan Farrar led off the inning with a single to right, before stealing second. The next batter, Carpenter singled into center, scoring Farrar. The rally continued when Jimmy Kerrigan was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. With two outs, Walker Haymaker singled up the middle scoring both runners, and regained a 4-3 advantage.
 
W&M tied the game at 4-4 with a run of its own in the bottom of the third inning. Back-to-back doubles from junior Charles Ameer and senior Charley Gould retied the score.
 
VCU added a pair of unearned run in the top of the fifth inning. Carpenter led off the inning with a single, moving to second on a single by Matt Davis. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs, before Haymaker reached on an error, which allowed a run to score. The next batter, Cooper Mickelson doubled into left center lifting the Rams lead to 6-4.
 
The Rams sent 10 men to the plate in the top of the sixth inning, batting around. VCU scored five runs on RBI from Carpenter, Davis, James Bunn, and Zach Ching making the score 11-4.
 
Farrar led off the top of the seventh inning with a triple as VCU added another run. The next batter Carpenter brought him around making the score 12-4.
 
The Tribe plated a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two-outs, back-to-back walks to Wrighte and Hunter Smith put runners on base. A single up the middle by senior Josh Smith was stopped by a diving shortstop, but his throw to second was offline allowing Wrighte to score.
 
Sophomore Charlie Fletcher was charged with his second loss of the season for the Green and Gold. He allowed three hits and two unearned runs in the loss. On the other side Luke Crabb picked up his first win of the season for VCU going four innings allowing just two hits.
 
The Green and Gold opens an eight-game road trip starting this weekend in Harrisonburg. The Tribe opens a three-game CAA series against James Madison on Friday, April 15. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.