WILMINGTON, N.C. – The William & Mary baseball team relied upon strong pitching and two-out hitting to edge UNCW, 3-2, in the series opener on Friday night. The Tribe (17-7, 2-2) scored two of its three runs behind two-out RBI and limited the Seahawks (15-12, 3-1) to six hits in evening its conference record.
After just two hits between each team in the first four innings, UNCW was the first to answer in the bottom of the fifth. A leadoff home run from Kep Brown granted the Seahawks a 1-0 edge. Regardless, junior
Wade Strain left just one runner on base, who reached via error, to limit the damage.
The Tribe used a two-out rally to pull even in the top of the seventh. Senior
Zach Pearson ignited the rally with W&M's first hit of the night, a bunt single to third base. Junior
Matthew Trehub took a hit by pitch before a wild pitch placed Pearson ninety feet away from home plate. Rookie
Hunter Hart then delivered an RBI single up the middle to knot it up at 1-all.
W&M grabbed the lead in the visiting half of the next frame. In leading off, sophomore
Matt McDermott was the second Tribe batter hit by pitch. Senior
Kyle Wrighte moved McDermott into scoring position via sac bunt before a wild pitch advanced him to third. Freshman
Matt Thomas platted McDermott on a single through the left side, giving the Tribe a 2-1 margin.
The Seahawks used two hits to even the score again, 2-2, in the bottom of the eighth. However, that only gave McDermott the chance to be the hero of the game. The Tribe set up the second baseman for a big hit with runners on the corner and two outs in the top of the ninth. McDermott then drove in the game-winning run behind a single through the right side.
Junior
Chris Farrell (2-1) pitched the last two innings with four strikeouts and only one run on three hits for the win. Blake Morgan (2-2) was charged with the loss after being held responsible for the go-ahead run.
Tribe Standouts
Senior
Owen Socher, McDermott, Pearson, Thomas and Hart all contributed a base hit each. Thomas and Trehub both also reach safely via walk. Strain tossed a superb start after lasting five innings with five strikeouts, one run, and three hits. Sophomore relievers
Justin Pearson and
Randy Prosperi combined for two scoreless innings.
Notes
The Tribe improved to 7-1 on the road … W&M handed the Seahawks its first conference loss of the season … McDermott totals eight two-out RBI, which ranks second on the team … The Green and Gold is now 2-2 against UNCW in the last four meetings … The Tribe scored just its second run all season in the top of ninth … It is also the first time W&M won a game when the score is tied after eight innings … Socher has reached base safely in 12 straight games.
Up Next
The weekend series resumes Saturday at 2 pm.
