WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Center fielder Ben Parker homered, and the Tribe nearly overcame a four-run deficit, but a late rally fell short as William & Mary fell to Campbell 5-4 in the series opener on Friday evening at Plumeri Park.

The Tribe (13-24, 7-6 CAA) out-hit the Fighting Camels 12-8 but were hampered by 13 runners left on base. Four W&M batters recorded multiple hits in the loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the bottom of the first, Parker mashed a leadoff home run to give W&M the early edge. The blast extended his hitting streak to 23 games.

In the ensuing half-inning, Tribe starter Jack Weight worked a three-up, three-down frame. Weight would go three innings, allowing just one run in the third on a solo home run. The freshman struck out two in his start.

Left fielder Lucas Carmichael also extended his hitting streak to 23 games in the third with a single. He later stole second base but was left stranded.

Both offenses were quiet until the fifth when Campbell (16-21, 7-6) took the lead with two runs, taking advantage of several free bases issued by W&M pitching.

In the sixth, the visitors added two more insurance runs on a pair of RBI singles as they went ahead 5-1.

W&M had a response in the bottom of the inning, striking for three runs. Third baseman Jamie Laskofski drew a leadoff walk and later came around to score on a wild pitch. DH Charlie Iriotakis then cut into the lead further with an RBI single that made it 5-3.

Parker would add another RBI, capping off the inning with a run-scoring single that plated Iriotakis. The grad senior went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

RHP Tyler Kelly entered from the pen in the seventh and worked his way out of a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam. Kelly got a fielder's choice groundout and two swinging strikeouts to hold Campbell scoreless.

Kelly continued to dominate in the eighth, getting three straight outs including a strikeout. He later worked around two walks in the ninth inning, getting help from catcher Charlie Felmlee who threw out a runner attempting to steal second.

The Tribe loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth after going down to their final out. However, a pop out to shortstop sealed the win for the Fighting Camels as Bryce Schares earned the save.

Peyton Brown got the win for Campbell. Tom Bourque was assigned the loss for W&M.

STAT NUGGETS

• The 23-game hitting streaks by Parker and Carmichael are the second-longest W&M hitting streaks since 2004, surpassed only by Ben Guez' 32-game run in 2008.
• Kelly went a career-long three innings, all scoreless, and allowed only one hit with three strikeouts.
• Second baseman Derek Holmes went 2-for-5.
• First baseman Anthony Greco posted a 2-for-5 line with a pair of doubles.

UP NEXT
The two teams will get together for game two on Saturday at 3 p.m.