Sheridan Homers Twice as W&M Defeats Liberty, 9-7

04/01/08 10:00PM

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Junior Mike Sheridan hit a pair of two-run home runs to help William and Mary earn a 9-7 victory at Liberty on Tuesday evening. With the win, the Tribe (19-10, 9-6) extended its winning streak to three games.

In addition to the home runs, Sheridan went 2-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored. The Washington, D.C., native also walked twice as he reached base in four of his five trips to the plate. Junior Ben Guez also posted an impressive performance as he went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases, while classmate Lanny Stanfield finished the evening 2-for-3 and scored twice. Junior James Williamson added a solo home run.

Sophomore LHP Tyler Truxell (3-1) earned the victory in relief, working 1.1 innings without allowing any runs. Senior RHP Pat Kantakevich pitched the final 2.0 innings to record his fourth save of the season.

The Tribe took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Sheridan hit his initial two-run blast. With two away, Guez singled to right and Sheridan followed with a home run over the right field fence.

Liberty evened the score at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Kenneth Negron drew a walk to lead off the frame and advanced to second when Errol Hollinger grounded out to short. P.K. Keller then drove in the Flames’ initial run with a single up the middle. After Tim Rotola entered the game as a pinch runner, he stole second before moving up to third on a single by David Giammaresi. Jeff Jefferson plated the second run with a sacrifice fly to right.

W&M reclaimed the lead with two runs in the second. Senior Greg Maliniak got things started with a single to right, and sophomore Cole Franklin drew a walk to put two runners aboard. Sophomore Chris Jensen then reached on a fielder’s choice as Maliniak moved up to third. After a wild pitch allowed Jensen to advance into scoring position, Stanfield drove in both runners with a double to right.

The Flames answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take their first lead of the contest. Garrett Young led off the inning with a solo home run to left. Aaron Phillips later drew a walk, and Hollinger hit a two-out, two-run blast to left.

The College reclaimed the lead with a pair of runs in the fifth. Guez reached on a leadoff walk and then stole second. Sheridan followed with a walk, and Guez moved to third on a wild pitch. After another wild pitch allowed Sheridan to score, Tyler Light entered the game in relief for starter Stephen Evans. Junior Rob Nickle later drove in the second run with a double to right center.

Liberty once again tied the contest with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Hollinger was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rotola. After Giammaresi popped up to second, Jefferson registered a RBI single up the middle.

With Dane Beakler on the hill in relief, W&M went ahead 8-6 in the seventh inning when Sheridan hit his second two-run homer of the night. Guez reached on an error to begin the frame, and Sheridan followed with a blast over the right field fence.

The Green and Gold extended their lead to 9-6 when Williamson led off the eighth with a solo home run to center.

With Kantakevich on in relief to start the eighth, Liberty narrowed the margin to 9-7 when Cody Brown hit a leadoff home run to left. However, that would be the final run the Flames put across as Kantakevich closed out the contest.

The Tribe will return to conference action when it plays a three-game series at Georgia State this weekend.

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