Tribe Defeats Longwood, 13-8, in 10 Innings

04/16/08 10:45PM

FARMVILLE, Va. - The William and Mary baseball team scored five runs in the top of the 10th inning to earn a 13-8 victory at Longwood on Wednesday evening. With the win, the Tribe (26-12) has won 10 of its last 12 games and improves to 16-5 in non-conference action.

Junior Ben Guez extended his hitting streak to 28 games with a solo home run in the third inning, while classmate Mike Sheridan went 4-for-6 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Junior Tyler Stampone drove in the go-ahead runs in the 10th inning with a two-RBI triple and finished the evening 3-for-5. Junior James Williamson also went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while senior Tim Park extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a 2-for-4 effort.

The Tribe took an early 5-0 lead with five runs in the second inning. Sheridan and Park began the frame with consecutive singles, and senior Greg Maliniak moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Williamson then plated Sheridan when he reached on a fielder’s choice. After sophomore Chris Jensen reached on catcher’s interference, junior Lanny Stanfield brought in two runs with a single to right, while a third run scored on the play because of an error by Longwood’s right fielder. Senior Paul Juliano then plated the fifth run with a sacrifice fly to center.

W&M increased its lead to 6-0 in the third inning when Guez led off the frame with a solo home run over the left center field fence.

While sophomore RHP Cody Winslow allowed just one hit and no walks through the first five innings, Longwood put five runs across in the sixth. Jon Quigley began the frame with an infield single and moved to second when Topher Ellis grounded out. Scott Kimble followed with a RBI single to bring in the Lancers’ initial run. Robbie Bailey then singled, and Kimble came all the way around to score on a throwing error by Guez. Paul Heidler II drove in another run with a single to left. After a single through the left side by Justin Morreim put two runners aboard, Phil Cerreto registered a RBI double to right center. Senior LHP Sean Grieve then entered the game in relief, and Brant Jones plated Morreim when he grounded out to second.

The College answered with a run in the top of the seventh to take a 7-5 advantage. With two outs, Sheridan doubled down the right field line and Park drew a walk. After RHP Rob Moody entered the game in relief of the starting pitcher John Farrell, Maliniak drove in Sheridan with a single to left center.

The Tribe added another run in the eighth inning to go ahead, 8-5. Williamson led off the frame with an infield single, and Juliano drew a two-out walk to put runners on first and second. Williamson then stole third and came around to score on a throwing error.

Longwood narrowed the margin to one, 8-7, with a pair of run in the bottom half of the inning. Bailey singled to start the frame, and Heidler drew a walk. After senior RHP Pat Kantakevich entered the game in relief, both runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Both runners later scored on groundouts by Morreim and Cerreto.

LC sent the contest into extra innings with a run in the bottom of the ninth. Nick von Gersdorff led off the frame with a single to center and moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Pinch hitter David Smily Jr. then drove in the tying run with a two-out double down the left field line.

With RHP Isaac Weiderman on the mound to begin the 10th, Williamson led off the inning with a double to right and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jensen. RHP Lance Harting then entered the game in relief and hit Stanfield to put runners on the corners. After picking off Williamson at third, Juliano drew a walk and Stampone broke the tie score with a two-RBI triple to left center. Stampone scored when Guez reached on an error, and Sheridan followed with a two-run blast over the right field fence.

The Tribe will return to action when it hosts VCU for a three-game series this weekend at Plumeri Park.

Box Score