COLLEGE PARK, Md. – In a marathon affair that extended four hours, the William & Mary baseball team outlasted Big Ten member Maryland, 6-3, in 11 innings on Tuesday night. Junior Colin Lipke delivered a two-RBI single that put the Tribe (11-18) ahead for good, completing a season sweep of the Terrapins (14-15).
W&M took an early edge after manufacturing a two-out a run in the opening frame. Senior Ryan Hall provided the spark by leading off with a double down the left line. Following the first two outs, junior Hunter Smith belted an RBI single to left field for the 1-0 edge.
After being held hitless through four innings, the Terrapins pulled even behind a two-out run of its own in the bottom of the fifth. Taylor Wright doubled in leading off, before the next two batters were retired. Nick Dunn then platted Wright on a single to right center.
Both squads would trade blows in both the seventh and eighth inning. Each team scored one run apiece on a single up middle in the seventh. During the top of the eighth, Lipke rocketed a leadoff home run to left center. However, UM scored an unearned run in the bottom half to knot it back up at 3-all.
Nonetheless, graduate transfer Andrew Burnick stepped on the mound in the bottom of the ninth and did an outstanding job in keeping the game even across two scoreless innings. Burnick had to strand a runner on third with less than two outs and left two on base in the 10th.
A three-run frame in the top of the 11th gave W&M the advantage and plenty of breathing room to seal the win. Senior Craig McLane came in as a pinch hitter and was hit by a pitch, before advancing 90 feet from home on a sac bunt and wild pitch. Hall was also hit and rookie Matt McDermott executed the best bunt single of the season to juice the bases. Lipke then slashed the heroic two-RBI single through the left side. Two more hit by pitches scored another run, before Maryland could retire the side.
Sophomore Wade Strain closed out the contest in the bottom of the 11th. He surrendered a leadoff single and hit a batter, but sat down the next three on a strikeout and two grounders to save the victory.
Tribe Standouts
Lipke finished the extra innings match with two hits, including his second home run, and three RBI. Smith also enjoyed a big day after collecting three hits with a double and RBI. Pearson generated two more hits and platted a run, while Socher drew three walks with another RBI.
On the bump, junior Nick Butts recorded an impressive start after logging four scoreless innings of no-hit ball and fanning two. Sophomore Jamie Sara struck out a season-high six batters in three innings and Burnick tallied two more.
Inside the Numbers
- Six W&M batters were hit by a pitch – four in the 11th inning.
- The Green and Gold stranded 17 UM runners on base, despite walking 11.
- The Tribe put out numerous fires by limiting the Terrapins to a 1-for-4 effort with a runner on third and less than two outs.
- Burnick claimed his second win of the season after blanking Maryland in the ninth and 10th inning.
- Elliot Zoellner was taxed with the loss (1-2), giving up three earned runs on two hits in just 1/3 of an inning.
Notes
W&M claimed its first-ever win against Maryland on the road...The contest lasted four hours and 11 minutes, the Tribe's longest game of 2018…It was W&M's longest contest since May, 27 2016 in the Colonial Athletic Association championship vs. UNCW (four hours and 23 minutes)…Strain garnered his fourth save of the season, which ties third-best in the CAA…Senior Charlie Fletcher appeared in his 92nd career game and is five shy of the record-breaker…W&M improved to 3-3 in extra-inning games...The Tribe is now 7-1 after scoring in the first inning…Hall has reached safely in his first at bat in four straight games – three times on an extra base hit…Hall is also riding a seven-game on base streak…Smith drove in his team-leading 13th two-out RBI.
Up Next
The Green and Gold turns right back around tomorrow for a home matchup against George Washington at 6 pm.
