WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary baseball team dropped the second game of a Saturday doubleheader to Towson, 9-1, at Plumeri Park. After the Tribe posted a thrilling walk-off win in game one, the Tigers scored a combined eight runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to break open a tie game. The Green and Gold fell to 23-23 overall and 12-7 in the CAA, while Towson improved to 18-29 and 8-9 in league play.
 
Sophomore Cullen Large and redshirt freshman Kyle Wrighte, who was the hero of game one with a walk-off double, led W&M's attack at the plate with two hits apiece. Freshman Owen Socher added a double and scored the Tribe's lone run in the fourth. Freshman Bodie Sheehan (3-4) took the loss, allowing two runs, only one earned, over four innings. He struck out three, but walked five.  
 
Towson's Kyle Stricker (5-1) earned the win, pitching the final 5.1 innings and allowing only three hits. Tiger starter Skylar Morris went the opening 3.2 innings for the visitors, scattering four hits and four walks, while striking out four.
 
Towson scored an unearned run in the second inning to take the early lead. Cuinn Mullins walked to start the inning, moved up to second on a wild pitch, and over to third on an error. Richie Palacios laid a bunt single down the third base line to score Mullins and give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
 
The Tribe threated in the bottom of the inning, but could not dial up the right combination. Senior Charley Gould and Socher sandwiched walks around a Wrighte double to load the bases with one out. After Morris struck out his second batter of the inning, freshman Matthew Keane flew deep to left center field, but Mullins tracked it down just the shy of the fence.
 
Some excellent Green and Gold defense in the third kept the game tied. After a lead off double by Brady Policelli, Large made a nice play up the middle on a Chris Henze grounder, getting the Towson DH thanks to a jump throw. With the infield in, one out and Policelli on third, Large made a leaping play on a bouncer and fired home to cut down Towson runner at the plate. Sheenan finished off the inning by picking off A.J. Gallo, who reached on the fielder's choice.
 
W&M tied the game with an unearned run of its own in the fourth. Socher doubled with one out, moved over to third on a ground out and scored when Towson first baseman Colin Dyer dropped a throw across the diamond on a Keane ground ball. W&M proceeded to load the bases on a Ryan Hall walk and a Ryder Miconi hit by pitch, but Large flew out to center to end the threat.
 
The Tigers retook the lead with a single run in the fifth. Palacios led off the inning with a walk and came around to score on Colin Gimblet's double to right center. Gimblet was left stranded a third thanks to a diving play by Gould. The senior first baseman robbed Gallo of extra bases, smothering a shot down the line and stepping on the bag to end the inning.
 
Towson tacked on four in the sixth to extend the lead to 6-1. Tristan Howerton singled to right to bring home Mullins from second after his lead-off single. A Palacios double to right center brought home Howerton, and Danny Caddigan, who came on as a pinch runner, added the third run of the frame, scoring on a wild pitch. Henze singled to right just out of Socher's reach to plate Palacios for the final run of the frame. Towson extended the margin to 9-1, tallying three unearned runs thanks to two Tribe throwing errors in the seventh.  
 
W&M loaded the bases for a third time in the ninth, but could not push any across. Keane and Gould both walked during the inning, while sophomore Craig McLane recorded his first career hit with a single to left. Stricker closed the door, inducing a ground ball to third and Caddigan stepped on the bag to end the game.
 
The Tribe wraps up the series with Towson on Sunday at 1 p.m. W&M will celebrate Senior Day, honoring its six seniors, Mitchell Aker, James Bedi, Joseph Gaouette, Charley Gould, Josh Smith and Andrew White, prior to first pitch.