WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Juniors Colin Lipke and Zach Pearson both notched multiple hits, while sophomore Jamie Sara tied his career-high in strikeouts, but the William & Mary baseball team fell to CAA rival Hofstra, 7-3, on Saturday afternoon. The Pride (20-15, 9-8 CAA) grand slammed in the first inning and the Tribe (15-28, 3-14 CAA) was unable to recover in the second of a three-game set.
 
The Pride took control of the game by claiming a 5-1 lead through the first two innings. Rob Weissheier was responsible for the grand slam in the opening frame. A Lipke two-out RBI double off the wall put the Tribe on the board in the bottom of the first. However, Hofstra pushed it back to a four-run game after Mikey Riesner hit an RBI single to left field in the second.
 
Despite trailing by six runs in the bottom of the eighth, sophomore Brandon Raquet provided a highlight moment for the Green and Gold. Pearson reached safely on fielder's choice, before Raquet sent a two-RBI rocket to center field. The ninth inning was uneventful as the Pride secured the series.
 
Tribe Standouts
Offensively, Lipke and Pearson paced W&M with two hits and a double each. Raquet's first bomb of the year allowed him to lead the RBI category. Sara fanned six batters and yielded just one run and one hit in 4.2 innings of relief. Senior Charlie Fletcher also tossed a scoreless stanza in the ninth, allowing only a hit.
 
Inside the Numbers
- All of Hofstra's runs were scored with two outs.
- The Green and Gold held an edge in extra base hits, 4-to-3, but the Pride's two home runs made the difference.
- Matt Weissheier (4-4) earned the win as he threw six innings with five strikeouts, five hits and one run.
- Sophomore Wade Strain (2-3) was dealt the loss after surrendering five runs on three hits in the first two innings. 

Notes
Fletcher advanced his all-time Tribe appearance record to 99 games…Fletcher also ranks fourth in the CAA record books…The last time Sara struck out six batters was at Maryland (4/3)…Raquet homered for the fourth time in his two-year career…Hall notched his 229^th career hit and needs one more to tie eighth in school history…Hall also extended his on-base streak to 10 consecutive games…Lipke doubled for the ninth time, while Pearson tallied his fifth…Pearson paces the team with 12 multi-hit games.
 
Up Next
The weekend series will wrap up tomorrow with a 1 pm first pitch.