JMU Rallies Back to Defeat W&M in CAA Opener

02/29/08 6:30PM

HARRISONBURG, Va. - The William and Mary baseball team fell at James Madison, 7-6, in both teams’ conference opener on Friday afternoon. The Dukes (3-2, 1-0) rallied from a 6-1 deficit in the final two innings, and Matt Townsend hit a walk-off two-run home run to complete the comeback. The loss is the Tribe’s first this season.

Junior Ben Guez went 4-for-4 with three runs scored, while classmate Mike Sheridan finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Senior Greg Maliniak hit a home run and extended his hitting streak to seven games. Sheridan and junior Robbie Nickle have also hit safely in all seven games this year.

RHP Trevor Knight (2-0) earned the win in relief, while junior RHP Jeremy Neustifter (0-1) took the loss. Starter LHP Pete Vernon tied the school record for career appearances (81), equaling the mark established by Robert Jones (1997-00).

W&M (6-1, 0-1) put three runs across in the top of the first on just one hit. Junior Tyler Stampone drew a walk to lead off the frame, and Guez was hit by a pitch to put two runners aboard. Sheridan then recorded a RBI single through the left side to plate the Tribe’s initial run. The following two hitters, Park and Nickle, were both hit by pitches to bring in another run. Sheridan scored the third run when Maliniak grounded into a double play.

The Tribe added a score in the third to increase the lead to 4-0. Guez registered a one-out single through the right side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sheridan followed with a RBI double down the left field line.

JMU got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth when Alex Foltz led off the frame with a solo home run over the left field fence.

The College answered with a run of its own in the top of the fifth to go back ahead by four, 5-1. Guez got things started with a two-out single to right, and Sheridan drove him in with a double to right on a 2-1 offering.

With senior LHP Trevor Kaylid on in relief for the Dukes, W&M threatened to extend its lead in the seventh but was unable to put any runs across. With one out, Stampone and Guez recorded back-to-back singles. After Sheridan lined out to left, Park was hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, Nickle fouled out to right to end the inning.

W&M tacked on another run in the top of the eighth when Maliniak led off the frame with a solo home run over the center field fence.

The Dukes rallied back with four runs in the bottom of the eighth to narrow the margin to just one, 6-5. Brett Sellers began the inning with a double down the right field line. After Matt Townsend grounded out to third, McKinnon Langston reached on a walk. Mike Fabiaschi followed with a RBI single through the left side that plated Sellers, as Neustifter then came in out of the bullpen to relieve Vernon. Foltz drew a walk to load the bases, and Lake hit a three-run double to complete the four-run inning.

Sellers led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield single, and Townsend drove a 2-1 pitch over the right center field fence to end the game.

The teams will play the second contest of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Box Score