Nickle's Walk-Off Homer Lifts Tribe Over Colonials, 7-6

Seniors Nickle, Stampone Each Hit Longballs in Comeback Victory

04/29/09 11:16PM

WILLIAMSBURG - The William and Mary Tribe baseball team completed yet another dramatic comeback on Wednesday night at Plumeri Park, as Rob Nickle’s walk-off two-run homer gave the College the victory over George Washington, 7-6. With the win, the Tribe moves to 20-22 on the year, while the Colonials fall to 19-26.

Box Score

Two seniors really led the way for the Green and Gold on Tuesday night. Nickle went 2-for-3 with the walk-off homer, three RBIs, two walks, and a run scored, while Tyler Stampone went 2-for-3 with a solo shot in the seventh inning and also walked and scored twice. With the two hits, Stampone extended his hitting-streak to 17 games.

On the mound, the Tribe again received some good performances from the bullpen. Matt Davenport and Reid Killen combined to throw 2.1 innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits while striking out three. Sophomore Logan Billbrough continued his strong throwing of late, getting the final four outs for the Tribe, allowing only one hit while striking out the side in the ninth on his way to his third win of the season.

Tribe head coach Frank Leoni was again happy to see another solid performance from Billbrough, saying, “Logan has pitched very well the last two evenings. His velocity is good and he is locating both his breakers. If he keeps doing what he is doing, he is going to be very difficult to deal with.”

After the Colonials scored two runs in both the second and third innings to take a 4-0 lead, the Tribe responded in the bottom of the third. After a hit-by-pitch and two walks loaded the bases, Nickle came to the plate. Nickle then took four straight balls and drew the free pass, plating Stephen Arcure, cutting GW’s lead to 4-1 after three innings.

In the fourth inning, the College would comeback and tie the ballgame. Freshman Chris Forsten led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and was then joined on base after junior Tyler Truxell singled up the middle. After a great sacrifice bunt by James Williamson, the College had two runners in scoring position at second and third.

Arcure then scored Forsten on a RBI groundout to the second baseman. Senior Jeff Jones then stepped up and doubled to right center, plating Truxell. The hits kept coming for the Green and Gold as sophomore Derrick Osteen singled to right center, scoring Jones from second and tying the game, 4-4.

The game didn’t remain tied for long, however, as George Washington scored runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take a 6-4 lead. Stampone cut that lead in half with one swing in the bottom of the seventh when he hit a 2-1 pitch deep down the left field line for his third homerun of the year. After seven innings, the College trailed the Colonials, 6-5.

The score remained 6-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. To begin the inning, Stampone did a great job of working the count and drew a walk on six pitches to bring the game-winning run to the plate. Nickle wasted little time, crushing a 1-0 offering from the Colonials’ pitcher deep over the fence in left center field. Nickle was mobbed by his teammates at home plate as his ninth homerun of the season gave the College a dramatic 7-6 win over George Washington.

Leoni was extremely pleased with the play of his seniors on Tuesday, specifically Stampone and Nickle. “We need our seniors to play well and they did tonight. Tyler did a great job of working the count and getting the walk and then Rob delivered with the clutch walk-off.” Leoni continued, “It’s really good to see out seniors come through in the clutch.”

The William and Mary Tribe baseball team will continue its homestand on Friday, May 1 when it hosts CAA-rival James Madison at Plumeri Park. The three-game series will get underway Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.