CHARLESTON, S.C. – For the third time in the last four years, the William & Mary baseball team has punched its ticket to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship game, pushing passed College of Charleston 10-3 in the loser's bracket final on Friday night in Charleston, S.C. With the win, the Tribe improves to 27-29, while the Cougars fall to 31-26-1.
 
The Tribe becomes the first team since UNCW to make the CAA title game in three of four years after they did it from 2009-12. W&M will square off with the Seahawks tomorrow, Saturday, May 28 at 10 a.m., which is a change due to impending inclement weather in the area. The Green and Gold is looking to become the first team since the 2012 UNCW team to come out of the loser's bracket to win the championship.
 
Junior Charles Ameer led the Tribe offense going 1-for-1 with a sacrifice bunt, walk, hit by pitch, and double, while he drove in four runs. Classmate Ryder Miconi record three hits, while senior Charley Gould had two. It was the 15th time this season, W&M recorded at-least 10 runs
 
William & Mary plated three runs in the top of the second inning, taking an early 3-0 lead. Gould led off the inning with a double down the left field line. After an out, senior Josh Smith singled into left bringing in the game's first run. Freshman Kyle Wrighte put a charge into one that was misplayed at the left field wall that allowed a run to score and Wrighte to reach third on the play. The next batter, Ameer executed a perfect squeeze bunt for the final run of the frame.
 
Charleston cut the lead to two runs with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning. Tommy Richter connected on a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall, making the score 3-1.
 
The Tribe restored its three-run lead with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Ameer led off the inning getting hit by a pitch, before moving to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Miconi doubled down the right field line, giving W&M a 4-1 lead.
 
CofC rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bradley Dixon reached on a one-out walk, moving to third on a single by Danny Wondrack. The next batter, Morgan Phillips lined a single into left, scoring Dixon. The rally continued as Richter singled up the middle making the score 4-3, but that was as closer the Cougars could crawl back.
 
W&M came right back with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Back-to-back walks from Wrighte and Ameer followed by a sacrifice bunt by freshman Zach Pearson put runners on second and third with one-out. The next batter, sophomore Ryan Hall lined out to right, but it was enough to score Wrighte, and give the Tribe a 5-3 lead.
 
For the 30th time this season, the Tribe scored four, or more, runs an inning with four in the top of the eighth inning. Back-to-back singles from Gould and freshman Hunter Smith started the rally, before a groundout moved everyone up 90 feet. After a great at-bat Wrighte drew a walk, loading the bases. Ameer, followed, with a double down the left field line that cleared the bases. Pearson kept the rally going with a single that gave the Green and Gold a 9-3 lead.
 
W&M added another run in the top of the ninth inning. Back-to-back doubles from Miconi and Large brought across the 10th run of the game for W&M.
 
Freshman Bodie Sheehan recorded his fifth win of the season, pitching 5.1 innings. He allowed three runs on six hits, while he struck out four. Sophomore Robert White tossed 2.2 innings allowing a lone hit and striking out three. He also got out of a jam with the Tribe up by one in the sixth inning. Sophomore Charlie Fletcher pitched the ninth. He walked three, but he got a double play, ending the game.
 
Nathan Ocker was saddled with his first loss of the season. He went six innings allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits, while striking out five. Richter led CofC with two hits and two RBI.