WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary baseball team used a grand slam to pull away from Maryland, 8-1, on Wednesday afternoon. Junior Brandon Raquet was responsible for the four-RBI homer to lead the Tribe (20-7) to its fifth-straight win against the Terrapins (13-14).
 
With the scored evened at 1-all, a pair of extra base hits lifted the Tribe to a two-run advantage in the bottom of the third. After the first out, senior Owen Socher drilled a double down the left line. On the next at-bat, classmate Hunter Smith rocketed a two-RBI homer to left center putting W&M on top, 3-1.
 
The Tribe went on to add a lot of insurance in the seventh. The Green and Gold loaded the bases on a hit by pitch and pair of walks. With two outs, Raquet then bombed a deep grand slam to center field for a comfortable 8-1 advantage.
 
Sophomore Jacob Haney (3-2) enjoyed another banner performance after striking out a career-best nine batters over 5.2 innings of work. He surrendered only one run on four hits to claim the win. Tuck Tucker (1-1) was taxed with the loss as he conceded four hits and three runs in four innings.
 
Tribe Standouts
Raquet and Smith accounted for seven of W&M's eight RBI.  Raquet earned a career-high four RBI, while Smith drove in three more. Socher reached on every plate appearance after finishing 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and two hit by pitches. Senior Kyle Wrighte hit a two-out double to center field in the sixth inning. Junior Jamie Sara, sophomore Justin Pearson and freshman Jack Cone combined for 3.1 scoreless innings and a strikeout apiece.   
 
Notes
The Tribe captured its third Power Five win of the season … W&M has won the last three meeting with the Terrapins … It's the third occasion the Tribe pitching staff combined for a one-run game … Raquet hit the first grand slam of his career … Raquet totals nine career dingers … The previous W&M grand slam was by Charles Ameer '17 on April 18, 2017, in an 11-10 comeback win at Richmond … Smith smoked his eighth home run of the season … Smith now ranks 11^th in W&M history with his 24^th career home run … Socher kept his on-base streak alive at 15 in a row.
 
Up Next
The Tribe will take its five-game winning streak to Delaware for its second-consecutive CAA road series. The three-game set starts on Friday, April 5^th at 7 pm, continues on Saturday, April 6^th at 7 pm and ends on Sunday, April 7^th at 1 pm.