W&M Cruises Past St. Joseph's, 16-12

02/24/08 6:00PM

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Tim Park and the rest of the William and Mary offense slugged their way to victory Sunday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader, defeating St. Joseph’s University, 16-12, at Plumeri Park.

Park, a senior out of Silver Spring, Maryland, led the way by going 4-4 with three doubles, three runs scored, and four RBIs. But he was far from being the only Tribe player who contributed offensively. Every player for William and Mary scored at least one run, with Ben Guez (3-5), Tyler Stampone (2-3, 3 RBI) and Lanny Stanfield (3-4) performing exceptionally for the Tribe.

Carl Kleinhenn earned the victory for the Tribe after entering in relief in the 2nd inning. The redshirt freshman out of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, pitched an effective 2.1 innings while giving up only one run on one hit.

While St. Joe’s took a 1-0 lead in the first half of the first inning, the Tribe bats immediately responded. Jeff Jones led off with a walk and stole second, allowing him to score easily on Park’s first double of the game. Robbie Nickle and Greg Maliniak both walked, loading the bases for Stampone, who delivered with a two-run single. Stanfield followed that with a single that scored Maliniak, and when Stanfield got caught in a run-down after trying to advance to second base, he stalled enough to allow Stampone to scamper home, making the score.

The Hawks were not deterred, however, as they answered with the top of the second with a five-run, six-hit effort to give them a 6-5 lead. But William and Mary responded with a four-run bottom half of the inning. James Williamson led off the inning with a single, and advanced to second when Guez dropped down a bunt single. Another clutch two-out double by Park brought both runners home. Nickle followed with a double of his own that scored Park. Maliniak brought in Nickle on a single, giving the Tribe a 9-6 lead, and the Tribe would remain in the lead the rest of the game.

After six and a half innings it looked as if the Hawks were making a comeback, as the score had been decreased to 10-9. But Stampone doubled, Stanfield singled, and Williamson walked to load the bases. Jones hit a FC that scored Stampone and an error by the second baseman Chris Hildreth allowed Stanfield to score. Guez then hit an RBI double to increase the lead to 13-9.

St. Joe’s scored two runs in the top of the eighth, only to see the Tribe answer with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Sheridan singled and scored on a Park double. Park was then able to advance two bases and score on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Nickle walked, stole second, and eventually scored on a Stampone sacrifice fly, making the score 16-11. St. Joe’s managed one run in the top of the 9th, but it was not enough as the Tribe won their third straight.

Box Score