The middle of the lineup (3-5 batters) combined to go 8-for-11 and the bullpen didn’t allow a run in the final 4.1 innings as the William & Mary baseball snapped its season-long losing streak with a 10-6 home win against Norfolk State at Plumeri Park on Tuesday night.
With the win, the Tribe improves to 7-10, while the Spartans fall to 6-10.
Sophomore Cullen Large led the Tribe going 3-for-3 with a homer, two runs scored and an RBI. Senior Charley Gould also added three hits with a RBI, while sophomore Ryan Hall chipped in two hits with two RBI.
Norfolk State jumped on the board first with three runs in the top of the second inning. Roger Hall led off the inning with a double down the right field, moving to third on a single from Kyle Vaas. The next batter, Alex Mauricio flew out to right, but it was enough to score Roger Hall for a sacrifice fly. The rally continued with two-outs as Ismael Herrera singled, and Justin Lee doubled clearing the bases, making the score 3-0.
W&M responded with a pair of runs of its own in the home half of the second. A double from Gould and a single from Large put runners on the corners with no one out. With two-outs, freshman Hunter Smith reached on a walk loading the bases. Classmate Kyle Wrighte followed by shooting a single up the middle, scoring two and cutting the deficit to 3-2.
The Tribe tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third thanks to a two-out homer. With two outs and a runner on second, Large lined a homer just clearing the right field wall, giving W&M its first lead at 4-3.
NSU retook the lead with three unearned in the top of the fifth inning. With the bases and loaded, Mauricio reached on a slow rolling infield single, but an errant throw allowed the bases to clear, and gave the Spartans a 6-4 lead.
W&M stormed right back with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back walks to juniors Charles Ameer and Ryder Miconi sparked the rally. Ryan Hall followed with a single to left that scored Ameer, before Gould doubled scoring Miconi. The third straight single from Large, retook the lead for the college. After an out, back-to-back walks to senior Josh Smith and Hunter Smith gave the Tribe an 8-6 lead.
The Tribe added another run in the home half of the sixth inning. Ameer reached on a lead off walk, moving to second on a stolen base. After an out, Hall singled into right scoring Ameer.
William & Mary tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Singles from Miconi and Gould followed by a wild pitch put runners on and second and third with an out. A sacrifice fly from Large gave the Tribe a 10-6 lead.
Freshman Bodie Sheehan made the start, but didn’t factor into the decision for the Green and Gold. He went 4.2 innings allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits with a strikeout.
The Green and Gold’s bullpen returned to form not allowing a run over the final 4.1 innings. Sophomores Charlie Fletcher and Robert White along with senior Joseph Gaouette slammed the door on any Spartans comeback attempt. Fletcher was credited with his first win of the season for the Tribe, pitching 1.1 innings allowing just one hit.
Michael Parmentier was saddled with the loss for the Spartans going 0.1 inning allowing four runs on three hits. Offensively, Roger Hall led NSU with two hits, while Maurico and Lee drove in two runs for the Spartans.
The college opens up Colonial Athletic Association play on Friday when they travel to Elon for a 4 p.m. tilt. The series continues at 2:30 p.m. Saturday before its 1:30 p.m. game Sunday.
