Box Score LEXINGTON, VA. - Tank Yaghoubi did it himself in extra innings, racing around the bases after a triple and a throwing error to break a 5-5 tie and give the Green and Gold a 6-5 win Tuesday night at VMI.
Cole Ragone gave William & Mary an early lead as the first baseman smashed a three-run homer, and
Nate Goranson picked up where he left off last weekend with a pair of hits and two runs driven in.
Ben Williamson was intentionally walked three times in the contest.
Rojo Prarie earned the win, tossing 4.0 innings allowing just one run on two hits and recording six strikeouts, while
Noah Hertzler earned his first career save, shutting down the VMI threat in the 11th.
The Keydets struck first on a solo shot from Justin Starke in the opening frame, but William & Mary would immediately answer in the second as
Charlie Iriotakis and
Corey Adams had back to back hits and were aboard for Ragone's three-run shot to left center.
A leadoff double would come around to score for VMI in the fourth, bringing the score to 3-2, but
Tom Mayer prevented any further damage. The Tribe would get back on the scoreboard in the sixth as Goranson singled in Williamson to make it a two-run lead.
A bases-loaded walk from Goranson in the seventh would give William & Mary a 5-2 advantage. VMI struck back in the bottom half as Zac Morris lifted a two-run homer to left making it a one-run game. Moments later Trey Morgan hit a solo shot to tie the game 5-5.
The Tribe would get a pair of men on base in the ninth as Williamson was intentionally walked for the third time and Goranson would be hit by a pitch, but the Green and Gold could not push a run across. VMI got a man on third in the ninth, but Prarie would get a strikeout to strand the runner and send the teams to extra innings.
Neither team threatened in the 10th and VMI retired the first two William & Mary batters in the 11th before Yaghoubi roped a triple into the corner in right and came around to score as the throw went over the third baseman's head. The Keydets would load the bases in the 11th, but Hertzler would get out of the jam and preserve the Tribe's victory.
Up Next: The Tribe will hit the road this weekend for a key CAA series at Towson beginning Friday afternoon.
