WILMINGTON, N.C. — A grand slam from Christian Rush, a dominant relief outing by Carter Lovasz, and a four-run 12th inning helped the William & Mary baseball team outlast UNCW 8-4 in 12 innings on Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field.

The Tribe (13-21, 7-4 CAA) got nine quality innings from their bullpen, collectively holding the Seahawks to two hits and one run. Center fielder Ben Parker highlighted the offense, going 2-for-5 with two runs and three RBI, including a pivotal three-run homer in extras, as he extended his 20-game hitting streak.

HOW IT HAPPENED
UNCW (17-18, 5-6) took an early lead in the first on a solo home run by Trevor Lucas. Tribe starter Zach Boyd responded in the second with a three-up, three-down inning.

William & Mary was unable to generate offense in the early going. In the first, left fielder Lucas Carmichael legged out an infield single to extend his hitting own streak to 20 straight games.

The Seahawks added to their lead with a pair of runs in the third as they went ahead 3-0. LHP Nick Lottchea entered from the bullpen in the fourth and retired the Seahawks in order.

After the Green & Gold offense went scoreless in the fifth, Lottchea kept his team in the game with a clean inning on the mound. Lottchea recorded a strikeout and pitched around a two-out walk.

The Tribe finally broke through in the sixth. Shortstop Owen Wilson, Parker, and third baseman Jamie Laskofski all walked in succession to load the bases.

With two outs, Rush deposited a fly ball over the left field wall for a grand slam, putting W&M ahead 4-3.

Lottchea got the Tribe a shut-down inning in the home half of the sixth. The senior stranded two runners on base, getting a pop out and strikeout to end the frame.

After W&M went down in order in the top of the seventh, Lovasz took the ball in the bottom of the inning and got three straight outs, including a pair of punchouts.

The Seahawks would tie the game in the eighth on an RBI fielder's choice. Lovasz did respond with a bases-loaded strikeout, leaving the bags full to hold UNCW to the lone run.

After W&M failed to score in the ninth, Lovasz promptly struck out the side to send the game into extra innings.

Neither side mustered any offense in the 10th and 11th innings. Lovasz continued to shove, retiring six of the seven batters he faced over those two frames. He totaled nine strikeouts for the day.

The Tribe finally broke through in the 12th when Wilson hit an RBI single to left for a 5-4 lead. Parker then provided some much-needed insurance, knocking a three-run homer out of the park to put the visitors ahead 8-4.

RHP Tyler Kelly closed the door in the bottom of the 12th, inducing three ground ball outs to seal the win.

Cooper Allen took the loss for UNCW.

STAT NUGGETS

• Parker and Carmichael's 20-game hitting streaks are now tied with Mike Sheridan for the fourth-longest since single-game records became available (dating back to 2004). Sheridan's streak lasted from Feb. 23-March 18, 2008.
• Rush's grand slam was the first by a Tribe hitter since Henry Jackson cleared the bases against N.C. A&T on April 13, 2024.
• Rush also upped his hitting streak to 10 games and his on-base streak to 16.
• Wilson went 1-for-4 with two runs, and RBI, and a walk.
• Lovasz racked up nine strikeouts over five innings, allowing one hit and one run. He threw 84 pitches in his extended relief outing.
• Lottchea went three shutout innings, yielding just one hit and punching out two.
• Kelly has four scoreless appearances in his last five outings.
• This was W&M's 10th come-from-behind win of the season.
• It was also their first win in extras.

UP NEXT
The Tribe will go for the series win on Sunday at 2 p.m.