HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The William & Mary baseball team used a pair of five-run innings to erase a four-run deficit and pick up an 11-4 victory at Hofstra to clinch the series and a spot in next week's Colonial Athletic Association Tournament on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Tribe improves to 31-20, 12-12 in CAA play, while the Pride drops to 18-31-1, 10-14 in league action.
 
Hofstra started the scoring as it plated four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Although only two hits left the infield, the Pride crossed the plate four times on RBI from Austin Pollack, Vito Friscia, and Sean Rausch.
 
W&M used a pair of five-run innings in the sixth and ninth to take the lead and then bust the game open. In the sixth, junior Brandon Raquet tripled to bring home two, before RBIs from senior Zach Pearson and sophomore Matt McDermott put the Tribe up 5-4. After a solo run in the eighth, the Tribe scored five more on RBIs from senior Jason Waldman, junior Matthew Trehub, and two more from McDermott.
 
On the mound, junior Nick Butts was credited with his third win of the season. He pitched 1.2 innings of relief scattering two hits while striking out one. Classmate Chris Farrell went the final 3.2 innings to nail down his fifth save of the year. Farrell allowed just one hit, while he fanned one.  
 
W&M Starters – Socher RF, Raquet LF, Pearson 3B, Smith C, Trehub 1B, Waldman DH, McDermott 2B, Wrighte SS, Cone CF, Tsakounis P
 
Hofstra Starters – Pollack CF, Friscia C, Weissheier 1B, Gauthier SS, O'Connor LF, D'Onofrio DH, Morash 2B, Rausch RF, Page 3B, Rue P
 
How It Happened
- Hofstra erupted for four runs in the home half of the fourth inning. Austin Gauthier led off the inning with a single, before moving to second a sacrifice bunt by Kevin O'Connor. Anthony D'Onofrio legged out an infield single, but the throw to first was errant and it allowed for the first run to score and D'Onofrio reach second. After a walk and a wild pitch put runners on the corners, Sean Rausch brought in the second run on a bunt single. The rally continued as Austin Pollack hit a sacrifice fly, before Vito Friscia doubled to make it 4-0.
- W&M jumped to the lead as it plated five runs in the top of the sixth inning. Senior Kyle Wrighte led off of the inning with a walk, before moving to second on a one-out infield single from classmate Owen Socher. The next batter, junior Brandon Raquet tripled to right field to clear the bases and cut the Pride lead in half. The rally continued as senior Zach Pearson slapped a single through the left side to get the Tribe within a run. After a walk to senior Hunter Smith, junior Matthew Trehub singled to center, but the ball got away from the centerfielder to tie the score. Sophomore Matt McDermott capped the rally with an infield single to make it 5-4 W&M.
- The Tribe added another run in the visitor's half of the eighth inning. Smith led off the inning with a walk, before moving to third on a single from Trehub. Senior Jason Waldman grounded into a fielder's choice, but it was enough to score Smith from third.
- W&M put the game away as it scored five more runs in the top of the ninth. Back-to-back singles from Socher and Raquet put runners on second and third with no outs. After an out, Smith was intentionally walked to load the bases. Both Waldman and Trehub were hit by pitches to bring in the first two runs of the inning. McDermott then doubled to left field to bring home two, before Waldman scored on a wild pitch to make it 11-4 Tribe.
 
Inside the Numbers
- W&M outhit Hofstra 12-10 in the victory, and in all three games this series.
- The Pride stranded 10 men on base, compared to just seven for the Tribe.
- Freshman Zach Tsakounis started the game for the Tribe, but didn't factor into the decision. He went 3.2 innings allowing four runs on seven hits, with two strikeouts.
- Four – senior Owen Socher, juniors Brandon Raquet and Matthew Trehub, as well as sophomore Matt McDermott – had multi-hit games.
 
Notes
Sophomore Matt McDermott recorded his fourth three-hit game of the season and his 14th multi-hit game of the season … The sophomore drove in three runs for the third time this season … He now has 35 RBI this season, and 52 RBI for his career … Junior Brandon Raquet continued his hot streak as he recorded a hit in the seventh straight game … He drove in two more runs to give him 28 this year and 66 for his career … Senior Jason Waldman drove in two more runs to give him 16 for the season and 29 for his career.
 
What's Ahead
W&M earns a spot in the 2019 CAA Tournament, which runs from Wednesday, May 22 through Saturday, May 25 at Veteran's Memorial Park on the campus of James Madison University. Although the final seeds are still to be determined, W&M will play Wednesday, May 22. Stay tuned to TribeAthletics.com for all CAA Tournament updates.