JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The William & Mary baseball team fell to East Tennessee State, 15-3, in the three-game series opener on Thursday evening at Thomas Stadium.
 
With the defeat, the Tribe slides to 18-17, while the Bucs move to 16-15.
 
Rookie Patrick Ryan led W&M with his first career home run and three RBI. Junior Cullen Large also posted an extra base hit with a double.
 
The Bucs scored seven runs in the first three innings to take control of the game. ETSU recorded an RBI double, scored on a fielding error, and hit a two-run dinger to plate four runs in the first inning.
 
The Bucs' Chris Cook hit an RBI double to left center for the only run of the second inning. In the third inning, another two-run homer lifted ETSU to a 7-0 advantage.
 
ETSU scored two runs in the fifth inning, before producing a six-run rally in the home half of the sixth. The Bucs drove in the first pair of sixth inning runs on a RBI double and a wild pitch. A Hagen Owenby sacrifice fly and a Christian Bailey solo shot kept the rally going. With two outs, the Bucs plated a couple more runs behind a RBI single and then a RBI double to bring their lead to 15-0.
 
The Tribe broke up the shutout in the top of the seventh inning. After one out, senior Charles Ameer singled to right field. Following the second out, freshman Matthew Trehub hit another single to left field. Ryan then delivered a three-run blast to left center for a 15-3 score.
 
Senior Daniel Powers (3-4) was credited with the loss. He finished with three strikeouts and nine runs allowed, six of them earned, on 10 hits through five innings.
 
Ryan Simpler (5-3) earned the win after going seven innings with 11 K's and three runs on six hits.
 
The three-game set resumes tomorrow as first pitch is scheduled again for 6:30 p.m.