Tribe Defeats NYIT, 10-6, to Earn Series Sweep

04/13/08 4:50PM

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary baseball team earned a four-game series sweep against New York Tech with a 10-6 victory at Plumeri Park on Sunday afternoon. With the victory, the Tribe (25-11) extends its winning streak to five games and has won nine of its last 10. Additionally, W&M improves to 20-3 at Plumeri Park and 15-4 in non-conference action.

Junior RHP Jeremy Neustifter (2-2) had an outstanding game on the mound and earned the victory. The Arvada, Colo., native worked 7.0 innings and allowed just one earned run on two hits with six strikeouts. During one stretch, he retired 17-of-18 batters. Senior LHP Sean Grieve pitched the final 1.2 innings with no hits allowed and three strikeouts to record his fifth save of the season.

Junior Ben Guez extended his hitting streak to 26 games, going 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a pair of walks. Senior Greg Maliniak and junior Mike Sheridan both went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while junior Jeff Jones hit his first home run of the season and scored twice.

New York Tech (8-15-1) got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the first inning. Denten Neill drew a walk to lead off the frame. After stealing second, Neill scored when Mike LaLuna singled to right.

The Tribe answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first. With two outs, Guez and Sheridan recorded back-to-back doubles to plate the first score. After senior Tim Park walked, Maliniak drove in the second run with a double to right.

W&M extended its lead to 5-1 with three runs in the third. Park got things started with a leadoff single up the middle and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Maliniak then drove him in with a RBI single up the middle. After Maliniak moved up to second on another wild pitch, Jones reached on an error by NYIT’s shortstop to put runners on the corners. Jones advanced to second with a stolen base, and Maliniak scored on a sacrifice bunt by junior Lanny Stanfield. Jones scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch.

The College added four more runs in the fifth to go ahead, 9-1. Jones began the frame with a solo home run to left off a 1-0 pitch. Sophomore Chris Jensen followed with a single to left, and junior Tyler Stampone reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners. After Stampone stole second, a pair of runs scored when Guez reached on an error by the Bears’ third baseman. Sheridan drove in the fourth run of the inning with a single to center.

With RHP Matt Doran on in relief, the Green and Gold tallied another run in the seventh. Pinch hitter Derrick Osteen recorded a leadoff double down the left filed line, and pinch hitter James Williamson drove him in with a two-out single through the left side.

After being held scoreless since the first inning, Tech scored five runs in the eighth. With freshman RHP Carl Kleinhenn on in relief to start the frame, Jerry Smith drew a leadoff walk and Neill was hit by a pitch. After Brian Smith walked, sophomore LHP Tyler Truxell entered the game in relief. LaLuna brought in the first run when he grounded into a fielder’s choice, while Neill scored on a wild pitch. LaLuna came home when Effrey Valdez tripled to deep right, and Tom Leonick plated him with a single through the left side. Joe Lucente brought in the fifth run with a single up the middle.

The Tribe will return to action when it hosts Liberty on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Box Score