CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 4-seeded William & Mary baseball team dropped the Charlottesville Regional opener to top-seeded and host Virginia 17-4 on Friday afternoon in Charlottesville. With the decision the Tribe falls to the loser's bracket and to 29-30 overall, while the Cavaliers, which advances to the winner's bracket final, improves to 38-20.
 
Junior Ryder Miconi led the Tribe with three hits in the ball game. Sophomore Ryan Hall added his fourth homer of the season and had two RBI.
 
For the 18th time this season, William & Mary jumped on the board with a run in the top of the first inning. With one out, a single from Miconi and a double from sophomore Cullen Large put runners on second and third. The next batter, senior Charley Gould grounded out, but it was enough to give the Tribe a 1-0 lead.
 
Virginia took the lead with two runs with two outs in the bottom of the second inning. With an out, a single from Daniel Pinero and walk to Adam Haseley started the rally. After a pop out, back-to-back singles from Jack Gerstenmaier and Cameron Simmons gave the Cavaliers a 2-1 advantage.
 
The Cavaliers tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Justin Novack led off the inning getting hit by a pitch, moving to second on a fly out in foul territory. A single from Pavin Smith scored the inning's first run. After an out, a single from Haseley kept the inning alive. The next batter, Charlie Cody doubled to the left centerfield wall, clearing the bases.
 
UVA plated three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Simmons led off the frame with a double to left center, before Ernie Clement homered over the left field wall. Novack followed with a single, moving to second on a wild pitch. The fourth consecutive hit of the inning from Matt Thaiss, gave the Cavaliers an 8-1 lead.
 
Again the Cavaliers scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, three consecutive walks to Cody, Gerstenmier, and Simmons loaded the bases. Clement hit into a fielder's choice, but that scored the Wahoos' ninth run.
 
The Tribe got back on the scoreboard with a two-out run in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs and a runner on first, senior Josh Smith was hit by a pitch. The next batter, freshman Kyle Wrighte singled into right, scoring classmate Hunter Smith from second.
 
However, Virginia came right back with two more of their own in the bottom of the frame. Novack led off the inning with a single, moving to second on a groundout.  The next batter, Pavin Smith doubled just inside the third baseline scoring Novack. Pinero followed with a triple to right center, scoring the second run of the inning.
 
W&M continued to fight and added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Freshman Zach Pearson led off the inning with a walk. The next batter, Hall belted a homer over the left field wall, cutting the lead to 13-4.
 
The Cavaliers added two more two out runs in the bottom of the seventh. Novack led off the inning with a single, before a one-out single by Pavin Smith. With two outs, Haseley doubled down the left field line, clearing the bases.
 
UVA tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out, Simmons reached on an error, before coming around to score on a triple from Clement. Novack followed with a single for the Cavaliers final run of the game.
 
Powers was saddled with his sixth loss of the season. He went three innings allowing six runs on seven hits, with a strikeout.
 
Alec Bettinger picked up his third win of the season for the Cavaliers. He went six innings allowing two runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Novack and Haseley led Virginia with three hits. Clement drove in four, while Haseley and Gerstenmaier drove in three.
 
The Green and Gold will play an elimination game tomorrow, Saturday, June 4 against the loser of No. 2-seeded Bryant and No. 3-seeded East Carolina, which is set for a 4 p.m. first pitch today. First pitch for tomorrow's game is set for 1 p.m.