CHARLESTON, S.C. – For the first time this season the William & Mary baseball team was blanked, falling 6-0 in the regular season finale at the College of Charleston. With the decision, the Tribe finishes the regular season 25-28, 14-9 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while the Cougars close the year 29-24-1, 12-12 in league action.
Three Charleston pitchers combined to blank the Green and Gold. Nathan Helvey made the start and pitched 4.1 innings of scoreless baseball. Eric Bauer was credited with win going 2.2 innings allowing just one hit, while Carter Love picked up the save pitching the final two innings without allowing a run.
W&M had just two hits in the game picked up by sophomore
Cullen Large and junior
Ryder Miconi. Four other Tribe players reached base on hit by pitches or walks, and the team stranded five men on base.
College of Charleston took an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Dupree Hart and Erven Roper sandwiched a base hits around an out. With two outs, Bradley Dixon singled into right giving the Cougars the 1-0 advantage.
The Cougars tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Dixon led off the inning with a single through the right side, moving to second when Tommy Richter was hit by a pitch. A pair of errors on a bunt attempt allowed for the first run of the inning to score. The next batter, Alex Pastorius sent a sac fly to right, making the score 3-0.
CofC put the finishing touches on its victory with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Pastourius led off the inning with a single, moving to third on a one-out single by Ryan Brown. After the second out, Bradley Jones was walked loading the bases. Roper followed by getting hit by a pitch, before Dixon drove in two more on a single.
Junior
Daniel Powers was saddled with his fifth loss season, but pitched well in the setback. He tossed five innings allowing just one run, while scattering eight hits.
Despite the setback today, the Tribe still earns the No. 2 seed and the bye in next week's CAA Baseball Championship in Charleston, S.C. W&M will face the winner of the No. 3-seeded Elon Phoenix and No. 6-seeded College of Charleston Cougars on Thursday, May 26 at 3:30 p.m.
