WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary baseball team will make the short trip to Richmond, Va., for a mid-week matchup against in-state rival VCU on Tuesday, April 4. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
ON TAP
W&M concludes a four-game road stretch with a mid-week game against Commonwealth foe VCU tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. The Green and Gold is looking to recover from back-to-back loses after dropping a three-game series at CAA foe Delaware last weekend.
SERIES HISTORY
W&M and VCU face each other for the 76
th time in series history on Tuesday evening. The Rams led the all-time series 45-30. In 2016, the Rams pulled away late for a 12-5 victory at Plumeri Park. The 2016 matchup was the first meeting between the programs since 2012, where VCU won a three-game series, 2-1.
SCOUTING THE RAMS
VCU aims to the extend its winning streak to three-straight as the Rams claimed a three-game set against George Washington last weekend, improving their record to 16-12. As a team, the Rams are hitting .285. Paul Witt headlines the offense on a .381 batting average (40-for-105), adding four doubles and a team-high 19 RBI. Dari Carpenter, a .212 hitter, paces the team in all extra base hit category with eight doubles, one triple, and four home runs. VCU holds a respective team 3.95 ERA. Sean Thompson lead the pitching staff on 42.2 innings, 47 strikeouts and a 2.95 ERA. Shawn Stiffler is in his fifth season as head coach at VCU. Stiffler is 159-102 during his tenure.
ON DECK
The Green and Gold return to Plumeri Park for a three-game series against CAA rival Elon this weekend. The set begins on Friday, April 7 at 6 p.m., continues on Saturday, April 8 at 4 p.m. and concludes on April 9 at 1 p.m.
START ME UP
The Tribe offense has gotten off to quick starts in six of its last nine games with at least one run scored in the first inning. W&M is 8-3 this season when leading after the first inning.
COMMONWEALTH CLASH
Tomorrow's game is the seventh of 15 contests against in-state rivals this season. So far, the Tribe has played Virginia (L, 3-11), VMI (W, 7-0), Virginia Tech (W, 19-10; L, 3-2), Norfolk State (W, 6-1), and Old Dominion (L, 11-6). Outside of the game with VCU, the remaining Commonwealth clashes include rematches against Old Dominion (4/11) and Norfolk State (4/12) and then Richmond (4/18), James Madison (4/21-23) and George Mason (4/26). Currently, the Tribe is 3-3 against state rivals this season.
GOING, GOING, GONE
The Tribe tallied four home runs during its three-game set at Delaware last weekend.
Charles Ameer and
Ryan Hall both notched a solo shot during Saturday's doubleheader, while
Hunter Smith and
Cullen Large both registered a dinger in the series finale on Sunday. W&M hit at least two homers as a team in seven games this season and are 6-1 when doing so.
MAKES YOU WANNA STAY
The Tribe competed in its second extra inning game of 2017 on April 2 against Delaware, falling to the Blue Hens 5-4. During its first extra inning contest this year, the Green and Gold topped Lafayette, 5-4, on Feb. 24.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Freshman
Brandon Raquet burst onto the scene during opening weekend at No. 2 Florida to earn CAA Rookie of the Week honors for the week of Feb. 20. Raquet hit .333 (4-for-12), including homer in his first career at-bat.
Patrick Ryan collected the Tribe's second consecutive CAA Rookie of the Week award for the week of Feb. 27. Ryan batted .444 (4-for-9) with four runs and four RBIs to help the Tribe sweep its home opening series against Lafafyette. Sophomore
Bodie Sheehan garnered CAA Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of for the week of March 6, making the third weekly award of the season for W&M. Sheehan carried the Tribe to its only shutout win of the season against Dayton. He fanned a career-high 11 batter and allowed just three hits in 7.2 inning of work. Senior
Daniel Powers picked up a win and his first career save while not allowing a run in 7.2 innings to garner CAA Pitcher of the Week honors for the Week of March 27. The senior right-hander gave up just four hits over 7.0 shutout innings and struck out a career-high 11 in the Tribe's 7-0 victory over VMI last Wednesday.
