WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – In its home opener, the William & Mary baseball team dropped another close game following a 4-3 verdict with in-state rival VCU on Tuesday afternoon. The Rams (1-3) took an early three-run lead and held off a Tribe (0-4) comeback for their first win.
Two singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with no outs for the Rams in the top of the second. VCU then brought in two runs on ground outs and another behind a bunt single. However, sophomore
Chris Farrell settled down and kept the Rams off the scoreboard through the next three innings.
The Green and Gold began to show signs of life in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back one-out singles from
Zach Pearson and
Matt McDermott set up
Owen Socher for an RBI ground out.
Nonetheless, the Rams quickly answered with a single-run sixth inning. Farrell surrendered a single and was relieved by freshman
Justin Pearson. On the next at bat, Liam Hibbits belted an RBI double to center field. Regardless, J. Pearson gave up just two more hits to finish his appearance with three scoreless innings and a strikeout.
Senior
Charlie Fletcher also tossed a goose egg in the ninth to keep it close during the Tribe's final three outs. Back-to-back singles from
Matthew Trehub and Z. Pearson, followed by a McDermott sac bunt put W&M in comeback position. However, the only run occurred from another Socher RBI grounder.
Tribe Standouts
Z. Pearson continues to provide a spark for the Tribe after matching his career-best three hits this afternoon. Trehub finished 2-for-3 with a run and double, while Socher drove in two runs and earned a base hit.
Inside the Numbers
- The Tribe defense converted two 463 double plays to keep the game within reach.
- The Rams' pitching staff combined for a total of 13 strikeouts.
- Both teams finished 2-for-2 with runners on third and less than two outs, and 5-for-16 (.313) with runners on base.
- VCU batted .333 when faced with two outs, while the Tribe hit .250 in the situation.
- Connor Gillispie notched his first win, tossing 4.0 innings with one hit and five strikeouts. Mac McCarty earned the save following his scoreless inning.
- Farrell was taxed with the loss (0-1) after going 5.0 innings with four runs (all earned), five hits and three strikeouts.
Notes
Fletcher ties fifth in W&M history following his 79
th career appearance…Farrell made the first start of his two-year career…Trehub recorded his first multiple hit game, while Z. Pearson produced his second…Z. Pearson and sophomore
Patrick Ryan boasts a team-high four-game hitting streak. J. Pearson made his collegiate debut for the Green and Gold…Hall has drove in a run in three of his four outings.
