W&M Defeats Towson, 20-8

04/26/08 5:25PM

TOWSON, Md. - The William and Mary baseball team put its offensive prowess on display once again, as it evened its series at Towson with a 20-8 victory on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Tribe improves its record to 31-13 overall and 14-8 in conference action. Additionally, the College has won 15 of its last 18 games. The lopsided triumph marks the second time this season W&M has scored at least 20 runs.

Six Tribe players had at least two hits, while seven players scored more than once. Senior Tim Park went 3-for-5 with a home run, five RBI and three runs scored, while classmate Greg Maliniak finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with a home run, six RBI and two runs scored. Junior Mike Sheridan went 4-for-5 with four RBI, four runs scored and a pair of doubles, while classmate Ben Guez went 3-for-6 with two doubles and two runs scored. Junior Tyler Stampone posted a 2-for-4 performance with four runs scored, while senior Paul Juliano scored three times.

Senior LHP Sean Grieve (3-0) earned the victory, pitching 2.2 innings of scoreless work in relief. With the effort, Grieve lowered his team-best ERA to 2.83.

The Tribe took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Juliano took first when he was hit by a pitch, and Guez recorded a one-out single to put runners on the corners. Juliano later scored on an error by Towson’s pitcher, Spencer Patton, on a failed pickoff attempt.

W&M added another run in the second frame. Maliniak led off the inning with a double to left center, and junior Jeff Jones drove him in with a one-out double down the left field line.

The College extended its lead to 6-0 with four more runs in the third. Stampone got things started with a one-out walk, and Guez followed with a double to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Sheridan then plated both runners with a double to right center. After Park singled, Maliniak drove in Sheridan with a sacrifice fly to right. Junior Rob Nickle brought in the fourth score with a double to left center.

Towson got on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning with two runs. Terry Gallo led of the frame with a solo home run to left. Nick Natoli reached on a one-out single and later advanced to second with a stolen base. Brian Conley drove in the second run with a RBI single to right.

As it did in the third inning, W&M put four runs across in the fourth inning to take a 10-2 advantage. Junior James Williamson was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Juliano reached on a walk. Stampone moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, and Guez plated a run with a double down the right field line. After Sheridan drew an intentional walk to load the bases, Park drove in two more runs with a double to right center. Maliniak brought in the fourth score of the inning when he grounded out to second.

TU narrowed the margin to two, 10-8, with six runs in the fifth. Natoli got things started with a leadoff single, and Kevin Collins followed with a two-run home run to right. A Conley walk and consecutive singles by Matt Collins and Jason Stifler loaded the bases. Steve Yarsinsky forced in another run with a walk, which brought Grieve in out of the bullpen for starter Kevin Landry. Gallo drove in two more scores with a single through the left side, while Gary Helmick’s RBI single up the middle plated the sixth run of the frame.

W&M answered with four runs the following inning to go ahead, 14-8. With Corey Cascio on the mound in relief, Stampone got things started with a double to left center. After moving to third on a groundout by Guez, Stampone scored on Sheridan’s RBI single. Park then reached on an error by TU’s first baseman, and Maliniak followed with a three-run blast over the left field fence.

The Tribe tacked on three more runs in the seventh. With Austin Hurd on in relief, Stampone was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. Sheridan later registered a one-out single, and Park hit a three-run home run over the right field fence.

The College increased it lead to 20-8 with three more runs in the eighth. Williamson led off the inning with a single to left, and Juliano was hit by a pitch to put two runners aboard. Stampone then drove in Williamson with a RBI single to right, which brought Charlie Cononie in out of the bullpen. After Guez flew out to right, Sheridan doubled in Juliano before Maliniak plated Stampone with a sacrifice fly to center.

The teams will play the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Box Score