VMI Edges Tribe, 9-8

03/25/08 11:00PM

LEXINGTON, Va. - The William and Mary baseball team nearly rallied back from an early 8-0 deficit but fell at Virginia Military Institute, 9-8, on Tuesday evening in Lexington, Va.

VMI’s Chris Duty (1-0) pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just one earned run to pick up the win, while Travis Smink recorded his second save of the season. Freshman Logan Billbrough (1-1) took the loss.

Sophomore Cole Franklin went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while senior Tim Park hit a two-run home run for the Tribe (16-9). Juniors Mike Sheridan, Jeff Jones and Tyler Stampone all had two hits apiece.

VMI (9-12) took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Jordan Ballard led off the frame with a solo home run to left.

The Keydets extended its advantage to 7-0 with six runs in the following inning. Justin Hess led off the frame with a walk, and he later scored when David Lottman reached on a bunt single advanced to third on a throwing error. Shane Geisslinger plated Lottman with a sacrifice fly to left, while A.J. Yoder followed with an infield single. After Tanner Biagini single up the middle and Sam Roberts drew a two-out walk to load the bases, Brian Sandridge hit a grand slam over the left field fence off a 2-2 pitch to put VMI up by seven.

The Keydets added another run in the fourth when Yoder drove in Lottman with a two-out double to right.

W&M got on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the fifth. With one out, junior Rob Nickle doubled to left and later advanced to third when senior Paul Juliano flew out to right. Sophomore Chris Jensen followed with a RBI single up the middle that plated the Tribe’s initial run.

With Ryan Barefoot on in relief, the College scored again in the sixth. Junior Ben Guez led off the frame with a single and advanced to third when he stole second and VMI’s catcher’s throw got away. Guez then scored when Franklin reached on an error by the Keydets’ third baseman.

The Tribe tallied another run in the seventh when Stampone drove in freshman Derrick Osteen with a two-out double to right center.

The Green and Gold narrowed the deficit to 8-5 with a pair of runs in the eighth off reliever Adam Kruithof. Sheridan began the frame with a double to right, and Park followed with a walk. After both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, Franklin registered a two-RBI single left center.

VMI responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning off senior Sean Grieve to push the margin back to four, 9-5. Roberts got things started with a walk and then stole second. After moving up to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sandridge, Roberts scored on a wild pitch.

W&M nearly completed the eight-run comeback with three runs in the ninth. With Travis Smink on the mound, Sheridan recorded a one-out single and Park followed with a two-run blast to left center. After Franklin singled, Williamson brought him in with a triple to right. W&M looked as if it might complete the comeback when Jones singled to right, but Williamson was thrown out at the plate. Jones was then caught stealing second to end the contest.

The Tribe will return to conference action when it hosts Delaware for a three-game series this weekend.

Box Score