CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Trailing by as many five runs, a valiant rally by William & Mary baseball fell short against No. 14 Virginia as the Tribe lost 9-7 on Tuesday evening at Disharoon Park.

The Cavaliers (14-3) took the lead in the first inning with an RBI double from A.J. Gracia. In the ensuing at-bat, Chase Ecker made a highlight-reel catch in center field to rob Joe Tiroly of a two-run homer. UVA went ahead 2-0 after the first.

In the top of the third, the Tribe (5-9) started a rally when Jamie Laskofski hit an RBI double to drive in Louie Bartletti. Trey Christman then drove in Laskofski on a groundout to tie the game at 2-2.

Virginia took a commanding lead with a five-spot in the fourth, aided by three Tribe walks and hit batsmen.

The visitors responded quickly, getting three runs back in the fifth with an RBI groundout from Witt Scafidi and a two-run single from Ecker. In the bottom half of the inning, Christman turned a 3-6 double play to help W&M get out of the inning.

UVA extended its lead to 9-5 after Tiroly and Sam Harris hit back-to-back home runs. Reliever Dylan McCarthy settled in from there, getting a groundball double play and flyout to end the threat.

After Scafidi singled with two outs in the seventh, Charlie Iriotakis went deep, blasting a home run to right field to make it a 9-7 game.

Jett Humphreys worked a scoreless seventh and eighth inning out of the bullpen. After letting up a triple with two outs in the eighth, he recorded a strikeout to retire the side.

W&M was unable to tie the game in the ninth as they went down in order.

STAT NUGGETS

• Scafidi went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.
• Ecker was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
• Laskofski reached base three times with a double and two walks.
• Humphreys pitched two innings with no runs, one hit, and a strikeout.

UP NEXT
W&M hosts East Carolina on Wednesday at Plumeri Park. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.