WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — A three-hit outing from Charlie Iriotakis, including a game-tying double in the seventh, helped spark William & Mary to a come-from-behind win over Charleston, 5-4, in the series opener on Friday night at Plumeri Park.

The Tribe (20-25, 13-6 CAA) helped themselves with situational hitting as they scored three runs on outs, including a go-ahead sacrifice fly from catcher Jerry Barnes III in the seventh. W&M racked up 11 hits and held Charleston (25-19, 8-11) scoreless over the final three innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED
LHP Nick Lottchea worked a scoreless first inning for the Tribe. His team took an early lead in the bottom of the inning when Derek Holmes delivered a run-producing groundout to third that plated Lucas Carmichael, who reached via an infield single.

Lottchea was perfect in the second, retiring the Cougars in order.

W&M would double their advantage in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of a pair of Cougars errors. With two outs, Carmichael doubled down the right field line to score Owen Wilson and give the Tribe a 2-0 lead.

The inning also featured a single from center fielder Ben Parker, who increased his hitting streak to 31 games.

Charleston tied the contest in the third as they etched across a couple extra-base hits plus a sacrifice fly.

In the fourth, W&M retook the lead on another productive out, this time with Parker, who drove in Iriotakis on an RBI groundout.

The Cougars got one back in the fifth on a solo home run by Tyler Sorrentino, then took their first lead in the sixth on a fielder's choice RBI groundout that put them ahead 4-3.

In the seventh inning, RHP Jack Weight delivered a scoreless inning, facing the minimum.

The Green & Gold had a response in the home half of the seventh. The rally began with back-to-back singles by Holmes and first baseman Anthony Greco. An RBI double by Iriotakis tied the game at 4-4 before a sacrifice fly by Barnes gave W&M a 5-4 lead.

RHP Carter Lovasz took over for Weight in the eighth. After a Charleston single, Barnes threw out Ethan Plyler attempting to steal second base. The Cougars did get two runners on later in the inning, but Lovasz ended the threat with a strikeout looking.

Lovasz returned for the ninth. After the Tribe committed a fielding error, the senior hurler responded with consecutive strikeouts. Lovasz walked the ensuing batter before getting the final out on a fielder's choice to second base.

Weight was the winning pitcher, racking up two strikeouts in his scoreless appearance. Lovasz got a six-out save, striking out three. CofC starter Jake Brink took the loss.

STAT NUGGETS

• Parker is now one game away from tying Ben Guez' modern-era program record for longest hitting streak at 32 games.
• Iriotakis was 3-for-4 at the plate with a run and RBI.
• Carmichael went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
• Parker and Carmichael extended their on-base streaks to 32 and 31 games, respectively.
• Holmes had a 2-for-4 night, adding a run and RBI.
• RHP Daniel Lingle made his 26th appearance of the season, putting him in sole possession for most games pitched in the country.
• W&M's pitching staff racked up 11 strikeouts.
• This was the Tribe's 10th straight game with double-digit hits.
• The Tribe won its sixth straight conference game, the longest such streak since May 1-21, 2022.

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