WILLIAMSBURG, VA.- Jack Cone wasted no time in extra innings as the senior lifted the first pitch in the bottom of the ninth over the wall in right to walk off UNCW giving the Tribe a 8-7 come from behind win. William & Mary trailed 7-1 entering the bottom of the eighth, scored six in the eighth to tie the game and Cone's solo shot sent the home crowd home happy and gave the Tribe a crucial CAA series win. It is the second straight season that the Tribe senior walked-off UNCW to give William & Mary a series win over the Seahawks.
Rojo Prarie earned the win tossing two innings allowing zero earned runs. Cone started the game on the hill for the Tribe and threw four innings without allowing an earned run, however unearned runs plagued the Green and Gold as five of the Seahawks seven runs were not earned.
Cole Ragone had a pair of extra-base hits in the ball game including his third homer in four games.
Matt Thomas had a pair of hits including a two-RBI single in the crucial eighth inning.
Cone retired the side in order in the first three innings, sitting down the first ten batters of the game. UNCW would finally get to the Green and Gold scoring a pair of unearned runs to open a 2-0 lead in the fourth.
David Hogarth singled and the Tribe would eventually load the bases in the bottom half of the frame, but UNCW was able to escape the jam without surrendering a run. After a scoreless fifth, Brooks Baldwin and Dillion Lifrieri woud homer to extend the Seahawk lead.
The Tribe would get on the board in the sixth as Ragone led off the frame with a double to left center and later scored on a single off the bat of Cone. UNCW took advantage of a Tribe miscue to plate three more unearned runs in the eighth to make it a 7-1 game.
In the bottom half of the frame, Ragone led off and crushed a 2-1 fastball the opposite way over the wall in right. Hogarth would single, then walks from
Max Winters,
Nick Lottchea, and
Lucas Carmichael would score a run.
Mark Trotta would draw another bases loaded walk to plate Winters making it a 7-4 UNCW lead. After a pitching change, Thomas ripped a two-RBI single to left center drawing the Tribe within one. A passed ball drew in Trotta to tie the game.
Prairie worked a clean ninth and Cone's lead off homer induced a dog pile at home plate in the bottom half of the frame.
UP NEXT: The Tribe will be back in action next Tuesday when they host VCU for a midweek tilt at Plumeri Park.
