WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary baseball team scored nine runs over its last three at-bats to take the series lid-lifter, 14-8, over James Madison on Friday afternoon at Plumeri Park. With the victory, the Tribe improves to 20-20, 5-5 in league action, while the Dukes drop to 18-19, 3-10 in Colonial Athletic Association play.
 
Freshman Brandon Raquet led the Tribe going 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Senior Ryder Miconi also collected three hits and three RBI, while sophomore Hunter Smith had two hits, three RBI, and three runs scored.
 
William & Mary jumped on the board with three runs in the home half of the first. Raquet led off the frame with a single, before moving to second on a wild pitch and third on a groundout. Junior Ryan Hall continued the rally with a ground-rule double over the right center field wall, scoring the afternoon's first run. After the second out, both Smith and senior Charles Ameer were hit by pitches, loading the bases. Sophomore Kyle Wrighte came through with a two-RBI single to right, making it 3-0.
 
James Madison trimmed the deficit to a run with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Ky Parrott reached on a one-out walk. After an out, junior Adam Sisk doubled into right field, plating Parrott all the way from first. The next batter, Josh Wyatt singled making the score 3-2.
 
The Tribe stormed right back and got both runs back in the home half of the frame. Miconi started the rally with a double to left center. Smith followed with his fourth homer of the season over the center-field wall, restoring a 5-2 Tribe advantage.
 
JMU took its first lead scoring six runs in the top of the fifth inning. Mike Sciorra started the inning with a walk, before moving to second on a bunt single by Kyle McPherson. Parrott continued the rally with a double to right center, clearing the bases. Brett Johnson followed with a walk, before both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Sisk kept the rally in motion as he singled to third tying the score. The Dukes took their first lead as Wyatt singled through the left side. Zach Tondi tacked on another RBI single to make it 6-4. The rally continued as Fox Semones reached on a bunt single loading the bases, before Harry Brown hit a sacrifice fly to right, making the score 8-5.
 
W&M rallied back to regain the lead with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Back-to-back walks from sophomore Zach Pearson and Raquet, before junior Cullen Large got hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Hall followed with a sacrifice fly to left field for the first run on the inning. The rally continued as Miconi shot a ball up the middle, scoring Raquet. Smith tied the score with a single to right. The Tribe regained the lead as Ameer hit a slow roller for an infield single that scored Miconi. Freshman Matthew Trehub gave the Tribe an insurance run as he singled up the middle, making it 10-8.
 
The Tribe added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Raquet and Large started the rally with back-to-back walks, before they each moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. Miconi followed with a two-RBI single, giving W&M its largest lead of the day.
 
W&M continued its offensive prowess with two runs in the bottom of the eight. Wrighte led off the frame with a single, before moving second on a steal and third on a sacrifice bunt by Trehub. With one-out, Pearson poked a single into center, plating the run. Raquet followed with a double into center field that scored Pearson all the way from first, and making 14-8.
 
The Tribe bullpen was fantastic as they closed the door without allowing a run over the final five innings. Junior Robert White pitched two innings to earn his fourth win of the season. He allowed one hit and picked up a strikeout. Senior Chase Bailey pitched a clean seventh inning, fanning one, while junior Charlie Fletcher tossed the last two innings, allowing a base hit, but striking out two.
 
Matt Colon was saddled with the loss for James Madison. He tossed 0.1 innings allowing four runs on one hit. Wyatt paced the Dukes offense with a three hits and two RBI, while Sisk added a pair of hits and two RBI.
 
Due to impending inclement weather the Tribe and the Dukes are set to play a doubleheader tomorrow (Saturday, April 22) at Plumeri Park. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.