Delaware Defeats Tribe, 8-3, in Series Opener

03/28/08 11:00PM

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Senior LHP Pete Vernon retired the first 15 batters he faced, but Delaware scored eight unanswered runs to rally back and defeat William and Mary, 8-3, at Plumeri Park on Friday evening. It was just the third home loss of the season (13-3) for W&M, while it marked the first conference loss of the season in Williamsburg (6-1).

Juniors Mike Sheridan and Ben Guez both went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while classmate Jeff Jones went 2-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored. Senior Greg Maliniak finished the evening 1-for-3 with a RBI.

Senior RHP Mike McGuire (3-2) allowed just two earned runs in 7.0 innings and struck out six to earn the win. After working five perfect innings, Vernon (3-2) allowed six runs in the fifth and sixth frames to take the loss.

The Tribe (16-10, 7-6) scored the contest’s initial run in the first inning. Guez drew a one-out walk, and Sheridan and senior Tim Park followed with singles to load the bases. Maliniak then plated Guez with a sacrifice fly to center.

W&M scored again in the second inning to take a 2-0 advantage. Jones led off the frame with a double to left center. After junior Lanny Stanfield popped out to short, Jones stole third and came in to score when the catcher’s attempt to throw him out got away.

The College added another run in the third. Park got things started when he doubled to shallow left center on a fly ball that dropped between the shortstop and the left fielder. Park followed with a walk, and Maliniak was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Jones then brought in Sheridan when he grounded out to third.

The Green and Gold looked as if they would continue to build their lead in the fourth but were unable to put any runs across. With one out, junior Tyler Stampone singled to left and Guez singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. After Guez moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, Sheridan was intentionally walked to load the bases. However, Park struck out swinging, and Maliniak grounded out to short on a close play at first.

After pitching a perfect game through the first five innings, Delaware (8-14, 3-4) put three runs across in the sixth to tie the game. Scott Shockley broke up the perfect game when he single to left center to lead off the inning. After Jared Olson followed with a single through the right side, Jon Duvall reached on a fielder’s choice. Kyle Davis was then hit by a pitch, and Adam Tsakonas drew a walk to load the bases. Alex Buchholz forced in the initial run when he was hit by a pitch, and Bill Merkler drove in two more with a single to left.

The Blue Hens took an 8-3 lead with five runs in the seventh. Chris Nehl began the frame with a double to left center, and Shockley drove him in with a double. After Duvall drew a two-out walk, senior LHP Sean Grieve entered the game in relief. Davis then registered a RBI single to left, and Tsakonas walked to load the bases. Buchholz then looked as if he grounded into a double play, but Williamson’s throw to first got away as two more runs came in on the play. Buchholz then stole third and came around to score when Park’s attempt to throw him out got away.

The teams will play the second game of the series on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Box Score