WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - After an impressive performance against VMI on Tuesday, the William and Mary baseball team welcomes the New York Tech Bears to Plumeri Park this weekend for a four-game set.  Game one from Williamsburg will get underway Friday, at 3 p.m.  Following the conclusion of Friday's first game, the two clubs will play again that night as part of a doubleheader.   On Saturday, game three from Plumeri Park is scheduled for 1 p.m., while the series will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Scouting the Tribe
The William and Mary Tribe baseball team enters the weekend series against the Bears with an overall record of 3-5.  In its last outing, the College downed VMI, 10-2, in Williamsburg.  W&M pounded out a season-high 14 hits during the eight-run victory over the Keydets.  Senior Matt Davenport (1-0) notched the win, as he pitched seven solid innings.  At the plate, senior Tadd Bower went 2-for-4, and led all Tribe batters with three RBIs.

Through eight games, sophomore Ryan Lindemuth leads the Green and Gold with team-high .355 (11-for-31) batting average.   The Burke, Va., native ranks first on the team with three stolen bases and second in runs scored with five.  Freshman Michael Katz leads the Tribe with five RBIs while posting a .300 (9-for-30) batting average.  Senior Tadd Bower checks in with a .286 (8-for-28) average and has tallied four RBIs and a home run during the early stage of the season. 

On the mound, the Tribe's staff has been solid, led by senior Matt Davenport.  The Chesapeake, Va., native has posted an ERA of 1.08 through 16.2 innings of work.  In his only appearance so far this season, junior Brett Koehler was outstanding against Rhode Island in the season's opening game, as he pitched seven innings of shutout baseball and allowed just one hit.  

Scouting the Bears
This weekend's four-game series against William and Mary will be the first of the 2012 season for the NYIT Bears.  Last year, the Bears finished with an overall record of 19-32 and Great West League ledger of 13-13.   At the plate, the Bears return junior Ali Rodriguez, who batted .331 a season ago.  Also returning is senior Ryan Campbell, who in 2011 posted a batting average of .290.  On the mound, junior Ryan Dillabough returns as the Bear's ace.  Last season, he posted a season ERA of 3.95 and a record of 4-4.

The Series
All-time, the College holds a 28-2 series lead over the Bears.  In their first two meetings, W&M dropped both games to NYIT, but has since reeled off 28 wins against its non-conference foe.  The Tribe last played NYIT in 2008 and swept a four game-game set by a combined score of 41-23.

Tribe's Brett Koehler Named CAA-Co Pitcher of the Week
William and Mary junior hurler Brett Koehler was named CAA Co-Pitcher of the Week last Tuesday, the conference office announced.  The honor is the first of the season and second career award for the Pre-Season All-CAA selection. Koehler earned the distinction after an outstanding performance against Rhode Island this past Friday, at Plumeri Park.  The Glen Gardner, N.J., native went seven shutout innings, allowing just one hit.  Koehler finished the contest striking out five Rams in route to his first victory of the 2012 season.

Koehler Named Preseason All-CAA
Prior to the 2012 season, junior Brett Koehler was tabbed to the Preseason All-CAA Team.  Koehler was one of just three pitchers named to the team.  In 2011, Koehler earned Second-Team All-CAA honors by posting an overall ERA of 2.73 and a CAA ERA of 1.25.  Koehler moved to bullpen in the early part of 2011 and finished the season racking up eight saves, which was third most in the league.  Koehler enters the 2012 campaign as the Tribe's Friday starter