CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Junior Charles Ameer belted the second pitch of the seventh inning over the left centerfield wall, and the William & Mary Tribe baseball team knocked off defending national champion Virginia, 5-4, keeping its magical run through May and June alive for another game. With the win, W&M advances to its second Regional Final, both in the last four years, and improves to 31-30, while the Cavs closed out the year at 38-22.
 
The Tribe has stared elimination in the face six consecutive times and each time succeeded without getting down to its final three outs. The Green and Gold meets East Carolina in the Charlottesville Regional Championship at 3 p.m. needing to win twice.
 
Offensively, freshman Hunter Smith, junior Charles Ameer, and senior Josh Smith each collected two hits. Ameer's homer put the Tribe ahead for good, while freshman Kyle Wrighte had two RBI to lead W&M.
 
The bottom of the lineup provided a spark as William & Mary jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Hunter Smith led off the inning with a single back up the middle, before Josh Smith moved him up on a bunt single. The next batter, Wrighte roped a double down the left field line that cleared the bases. For the second time in the inning, the Tribe reached on a bunt single as Ameer beat one out to put runners on the corners. Freshman Zach Pearson followed with a sacrifice fly, giving W&M a 3-0 lead after two.
 
Virginia responded with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, back-to-back doubles from Pavin Smith and Daniel Pinero got the Cavaliers on the board for the first time. Adam Hasel ey followedwith a single up the middle to score Pinero. After the second out, Jack Gerstenmaier singled up the middle tying the score at three.
 
Pinero gave the Cavaliers their only lead of the afternoon with one swing of the bat in the top of the sixth inning. Pinero connected on a 1-2 pitch, and just snuck a home run over the left field wall.
 
The Tribe responded right back, tying the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the frame. Senior Charley Gould led of the inning with a double. On the next pitch, Hunter Smith singled into left, tying the score.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Ameer launched the second pitch of the inning deep over the right field wall. His eighth homer of the season lifted W&M to a 5-4 advantage, the eventual final score.
 
Freshman Bodie Sheehan did not factor in the decision, but had a strong start for the Green and Gold. He pitched 5.2 innings allowing four runs on eight hits. Sophomore Robert White picked up his second win of the season going 1.1 innings allowing just three walks and a strikeout. Senior Joseph Gaouette broke the school single-season saves record with a six-out appearance to earn his 11th save of the campaign. He scattered a pair of hits in each inning, but kept the Cavaliers off the scoreboard.

Tommy Doyle was saddled with his seventh loss of the season, going 4.1 innings allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out three. Offensively, Daniel Pinero and Jack Gerstenmaier led the Wahoos going 3-for-4. Pinero had two RBI and scored twice.