WILLIAMSBURG, VA. - Out hitting VCU 11-7 and having three men reach on free passes, the Tribe had no shortage of base runners, but the team was unable to cash in on a big hit in a 4-2 loss to the Rams Tuesday evening at Plumeri Park.
Reigning CAA Player of the Week
Cole Ragone had a single, a pair of doubles, and scored in the game, while
Joe Delossantos also had a trio of base knocks.
Nate Goranson had an RBI single in four plate appearances.
On the hill, the Tribe was solid allowing three earned runs on seven hits.
Nate Knowles settled in to strike out a pair and allow just two hits after an uncertain first inning, and
Matt Howat continued to rack up the quality relief outings with just one run on one hit over 3.0 innings of work.
Randy Prosperi did not allow an earned run, and gave up just one hit in 2.0 innings and
Mike Weidinger struck out a pair in a clean ninth.
VCU wasted no time getting to Tribe starter Knowles as the Rams put up a pair of runs on two hits in the top half of the first. Knowles would settle in and retire eight of the last 10 men he faced, allowing just two hits over three innings of work.
The Rams would take advantage of two more hits to plate a run in the top of the fourth, making it a 3-0 ballgame. William & Mary found the scoreboard in the bottom half as
Joe Delossantos hit a double down the line in left and moved to third on a
Tyler Solomon single before scoring on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of
Adam Quintero.
After the teams traded scoreless fifth and sixth innings, VCU once again got to the Tribe for a run on a pair of hits to make it 4-1. Once again, the Green and Gold answered as Ragone shot a lead off double off the wall in left and scored on a
Nate Goranson single. However, the Tribe would strand a pair of runners keeping the lead at two for the Rams.
VCU loaded the bases in the ninth, but Weidinger worked out of the jam keeping the score 4-2. In the bottom half,
Max Winters shot a pinch hit single into left, and Trotta followed with his second single of the day. However the next three men would go down in order to keep the Tribe off the scoreboard in the ninth.
UP NEXT: The Tribe will resume conference play this weekend with a trio of games at Northeastern in Boston.
