Tribe Uses Five-Run Eighth Inning to Beat UMES, 11-7

02/20/10 6:44PM

Williamsburg, Va. - The William and Mary baseball team completed its first come-from-behind win on the 2010 season on Saturday afternoon, beating the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks, 11-7, at Plumeri Park. With the win, the Tribe moves to 2-0 on the season, while UMES falls to 0-2.

Box Score
Photo Gallery (Photos by Pete Clawson)

Sophomore Tadd Bower continued his torrid hitting, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs to lead the Tribe, while classmate Chris Forsten also knocked in three for the College. Sophomore Matt Davenport came out of the bullpen to pitch 4.2 scoreless innings, surrendering only three hits while striking out six to earn his first victory of the season.

After being shutout on Friday, the Hawks came out swinging on Saturday, scoring three runs in the first inning to take an early 3-0 advantage. The Green and Gold answered, however, with a run in the bottom of the frame on an RBI double from Bower, scoring junior Derrick Osteen who had drawn a walk and stole second. With the run, the Hawks advantage was cut to 3-1 after the opening inning.

UMES wasn’t done scoring runs, however, and would continue to build its lead. The Hawks scored a run in the second and tacked on three more in the fourth to push its lead to 7-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Tribe would climb right back in the game in the bottom of the frame, beginning with a single up the middle from freshman Derek Lowe. Osteen would follow with another walk to bring up Bower. Bower would double deep to right field, scoring Lowe to cut the lead to 7-2.

Forsten followed with a single to left field, scoring both Osteen and Bower, cutting the lead in half. Four batters later with the bases loaded, freshman Ryan Williams hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Forsten. Up to the plate walked sophomore Stephen Arcure, who singled to center, scoring junior Jonathan Slattery, putting UMES’ lead at 7-6.

With the lead cut, Davenport went to work on the mound for the Green and Gold. After leading the Tribe in wins a season ago with six, Davenport was even more impressive in his season debut, not allowing the Hawks to add to their lead.

With the lead still at 7-6, the College completed its comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning. Again, Lowe began the rally, this time with a leadoff double. Two batters later, Bower tied the game with an RBI groundout to the shortstop, scoring Lowe and moving Osteen to third, who had gotten on base for the fifth time. Forsten then strode the plate, knocking a double to right field that put the Tribe in the lead, 8-7. The College would add on three more runs to push its advantage to 11-7 heading into the ninth.

Out of the pen came sophomore Jay McCarthy for the College. McCarthy promptly got a groundout and a lineout to get the first two outs before surrendering a walk. That would be the last baserunner for the Hawks as McCarthy would induce a weak groundout to end the game and secure the Tribe win.

Ryan Williams would end the game with three RBIs, going 1-for-3 form the plate, while other standouts included both Osteen, who drew four walks, and junior Kevin Alas, who drew three walks himself and also collected a hit.

The William and Mary Tribe baseball team will look to complete the sweep of the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks on Sunday, February 21 at Plumeri Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.