Tribe Splits Doubleheader at Georgia State

04/06/08 9:50PM

ATLANTA - After rain washed out play on Friday and Saturday, the William and Mary baseball team split a doubleheader at Georgia State on Sunday afternoon. The Tribe (20-11, 10-7) earned a 3-2 victory in the seven-inning opener, while the Panthers (18-10, 7-7) recorded a 6-3 win on a walk-off, three-run home run by Marc Mimeault in the second game.

Senior Tim Park led the Tribe in the opener, going 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored, while classmate Greg Maliniak went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Senior LHP Pete Vernon earned the victory and improved his record to 4-2. The Fort Washington, Pa., native worked 6.0 innings and allowed just two earned runs on four hits. Senior RHP Pat Kantakevich closed out the game in the seventh inning and recorded his team-leading fifth save.

Park also performed well in the second contest and went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored, while senior Paul Juliano went 2-for-3 with a RBI.

The Tribe took an early 2-0 lead in the opening game with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Junior Tyler Stampone drew a leadoff walk on four pitches, and classmate Mike Sheridan recorded a one-out single to left. Park drove in the initial run with a single to left, while Maliniak followed with a RBI single to center.

W&M extended its lead to 3-0 with another run in the third inning. Park got things started with a one-out double down the right field line. After moving up to third on a groundout by Maliniak, Park scored when junior Jeff Jones reached on an error by GSU’s third baseman.

The Panthers narrowed the margin to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Derek Simmons drew a one-out walk, and Chase Childers followed with a single to left. Mike McCree’s double to left center drove in the initial run, while Jonathan Kolowich plated the second score when he grounded out to second.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh and Kantakevich on the mound in relief, GSU loaded the bases with three consecutive walks. However, Childers flew out to left to end the threat and the opening game.

Georgia State scored first in the second game, putting two runs across in the bottom of the third. Theo Asher hit a one-out double down the right field line, and Dusty Bennett drew a walk to put two runners aboard. After Nick Hogan fouled out to right, both runners moved into scoring position with a double steal. Jean-Michel Rochon-Salva then put GSU ahead with a two-RBI double down the right field line.

The Tribe got on the scoreboard in the fourth when Park blasted a one-out solo home run to right center. It was Park’s seventh home run of the season.

The Panthers answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning when Childers led off the frame with a solo home run over the right field fence.

W&M evened the score at 3-3 with two runs in the top of the eighth. Guez began the inning with a double to right center and advanced to third when Sheridan grounded out to first. David Ferrer then entered the game in relief for starter Will Palmer and surrendered a RBI single up the middle to Park. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Park scored on a two-out single by Juliano.

With Kantakevich on the hill in the ninth, Childers led off with a single to left. After Bradley Logan reached on a bunt single, Mimeault ended the game with a walk-off home run over the center field fence.

The Tribe will return to action when it plays at Norfolk State on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score