WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – William & Mary baseball readies for its first road trip of 2024 as it looks to take on the Richmond Spiders on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Last Time Out
The Tribe opened its season with a series victory over Holy Cross on opening weekend, earning a pair of wins on Saturday, 8-4, and Sunday, 14-12, after dropping a close opening day contest to the Crusaders, 2-4.
In the series finale, the come-from-behind win was the result of two five-run innings that erased an early 7-0 deficit.
Joe Delossantos ripped his second home run of the weekend off the scoreboard and graduate transfer
Ben Parker barreled his first homer in Green & Gold.
Off to a Hot Start
Fifth year outfielder
Joe Delossantos had a monster opening weekend, hitting .538 with seven hits, seven RBI and five runs on top of two explosive home runs. With the top five exit velos recorded over the weekend, his second homer was 115.8 off the bat. He also reached base on a pair of walks and only struck out twice over three games.
Freshman Firsts
Freshman outfielder and first baseman
Anthony Greco had an impressive first weekend of collegiate baseball, recording his first hit on his first plate appearance. In three games and two starts, he didn't strike out once and reached base six times, on four hits and a pair of walks. His four hits and four RBI are second on the team.
Also in his collegiate debut weekend,
Trey Christman had a pair of hits, including a double, two walks and two runs. He also did not strike out once.
Offensive Streak Watch
Seven players reached base in all three of the Tribe's opening weekend games and a trio have posted a three-game active hitting streak. Delossantos, Greco and graduate transfer
Luca Trigiani have recorded hits in every game, while
Lucas Carmichael and Parker have joined sophomore duo
Corey Adams and
Jerry Barnes III on base in all of the Tribe's games so far.
The Best Things Come in Threes
Jerry Barnes III tied a single-game program record as he was hit by three pitches on Sunday, a number which has only been achieved five times in recorded program history. Of five HBPs in the first three games, he was hit by a pitch to load the bases three separate times over the weekend.
Hindy's Return
After missing his sophomore season and all but one game as a true freshman the year prior to injury,
Mark Hindy earned the win in his stellar return to the mound for the Tribe. He tossed 3.1 no-hit innings, fanning six and allowing only two baserunners against Holy Cross in the Tribe's first win of the season. The victory marks his first collegiate win and he is one of just three CAA pitchers to hold opponents to a .000 AVG in the first weekend.
Right Where We Left Off
The pitching staff, which finished ninth in the nation in ERA a season ago, picked up right where they left off as three other arms made spectacular opening weekend performances.
Nate Knowles,
Nick Lottchea and
Owen Pierce combined for 9.0 innings with only four hits and no earned runs during the opening series against Holy Cross.
Knowles opened the season on the mound for the Tribe, fanning a career-high-tying eight Crusaders and allowing only a pair of hits over 3.0 scoreless innings. Lottchea earned the Tribe's Sunday victory, sealing the series for the Green & Gold as he tossed three innings of one-hit ball. Pierce also only allowed one hit, holding Crusaders to a whopping 0.91 AVG over his 3.0 innings of work with three strikeouts.
Series Notes
All time, the Spiders lead the Tribe 99-158-1 in a series which stretches back to the first meeting in 1897 – a 9-6 W&M win in Richmond. The Tribe have scored eight or more runs in the three most recent matchups with the Spiders, marking two wins for the Green & Gold. In the last 10 meetings, the teams are an even 5-5.
W&M visits Richmond for the 130
th time, looking to add a win to its 37-91-1 all-time away record against the Spiders.
Last year against Richmond, Carmichael led the Tribe's offense, going 3-3 with a run and a walk.
Nick Lottchea and
Carter Lovasz combined for 6.0 scoreless innings, as Lovasz earned a save.
25 Years of Home-Field Advantage
Last season, the Tribe posted a whopping 22-8 record at home, including a pair of wins to conclude its final home weekend. With 32 chances to watch the Green & Gold play at beautiful Plumeri Park, the Tribe looks to continue capitalizing on the homefield advantage to extend its winning streak at home.
The Tribe is set to open the season with six consecutive home weekends, featuring eight opponents, and a pair of home midweek contests in late February and early March.
Wednesday, March 20 marks exactly 25 years since the public dedication of the program's beloved home field. On that date in 1999, the Tribe defeated Penn State, 16-10, in its inaugural game at Plumeri Park. Although W&M will be on the road at Norfolk State on the dedication's 25
th anniversary, it hosts Quinnipiac and Stony Brook in the surrounding weekends.
Up Next
The Tribe returns to Plumeri Park to kick off a seven-game homestand with UMass Lowell on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 23-25, before welcoming Norfolk State for the first of two matchups this season on Feb. 27. Prior to a midweek series with Old Dominion, the Tribe will host Central Connecticut State (March 1), Boston College (March 2) and Sacred Heart (March 3) to conclude its homestand.
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