CHARLESTON, S.C. – The William & Mary baseball team dropped the first game of three-game series at the College of Charleston 4-1 on Thursday evening. With the decision the Tribe falls to 24-27, 13-8 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while the Cougars improve to 28-23-1, 11-11 in league action.
 
William & Mary jumped on the board with a run in the top of the second inning. Senior Charley Gould doubled to right center to start the rally. Freshman Hunter Smith followed with a bouncer up the middle that allowed Gould to score.
 
Charleston tied the score thanks to an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bradley Jones led off the inning with a walk moving to second on a groundout. After a second out, Tommy Richter singled in the infield, but an errant throw allowed Jones to score, making the score 1-1.
 
The Cougars took their first lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Back-to-back walks to Dupree Hart and Jones started the rally, before a sac bunt moved them both up 90 feet. A single through the left side by Bradley Dixon pushed the lead to 2-1.
 
CofC tacked on two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Ryan Brown reached on a two-out walk moving to second on a stolen base, and to third on a single from Hart. A wild pitch scored Brown, and allowed Hart to reach third. Hart came around on a single by Jones, and gave the Cougars a 4-1 lead.
 
Logan McRae added the final run of the game on a homer. He belted an offering over the left field wall, making the score 5-1.
 
Junior starting pitcher Nick Brown was saddled with his sixth loss for the Tribe. He went six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, while he struck out four.
 
His counterpart, Bailey Ober picked up the win for the Cougars pitching a complete game. He allowed just a run on four hits, while he fanned seven batters.
 
The Green and Gold and Cougars continue their three-game series tomorrow, Friday, May 20 at 2:30 p.m. The series is set to conclude on Saturday, May 21 at 1 p.m.