Yet, all that paled in comparison to the biggest story of the day: the College (38-22) won its first game in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament in program history with the 4-2 victory over Mississippi.

The Tribe will face the winner of the N.C. State – Binghamton game tomorrow, June 1, at 7 p.m. Relive the action from the Raleigh Regional with select Tweets from @FlatHatSports.

Tribe baseball game day in Raleigh Regional. Catch Pinzino and rest of Tribe on ESPN3 at 2 p.m. taking on Ole Miss. #WMtribe #roadtoomaha

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

For you weather junkies, it's 85 and sunny in Raleigh. Good day for baseball. #raleighregional

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Breaking ball working for Inghram – strikeout strands Rebel runner on third. Still scoreless. Top third up next. #raleighregional

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Inghram (@j_ings) considered Tribe's No. 2 pitcher, but working well though two. 0-0 top 3

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

It's a whatever-you-can-do-I-can-do pitchers duel so far as Inghram (@j_ings) and Ole Miss's Meyers working quickly through frames, 0-0

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Squeeze at third gets an out, but now 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Good fielding job by Inghram to keep scoreboard clean. #raleighregional

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Inghram (@j_ings) goes back to breaking ball to get pop up, Katz makes final out on first base line. 0-0 heading into top of the fifth.

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Full count for Katz, who walks to load the bases. 2 outs, Lindemuth up at the plate. By far best Tribe opportunity today. #raleighregional

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Mayers walks Lindemuth, who calmly takes first. Ole Miss walks in a run, it's 1-0 Tribe. Bases still loaded. Top 5. #raleighregional

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

And another walk, 2-0 Tribe. Back-to-back walks for Ole Miss's Mayers. Bases still loaded, two outs. Still no hits in the inning.

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Sarty (3-3 today) with an RBI single on another E5 (second of inning). Ole Miss pitching change due up. It's 4-0 Tribe lead. Top 5, 2 outs.

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Damage done in top of the fifth inning. Tribe takes advantage of slew of walks, two E5s to score four runs. Force Ole Miss to use bullpen.

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Ole Miss gets one back after a big double and then single to plate the run. 4-1 Tribe as Inghram gets another pop fly to end the inning.

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Inghram (~110 pitches) with a great snag, Brown with a catch and then a textbook diving catch to get out of the eight. 4-2 Tribe lead, top 9

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Love to see that Brown diving catch again, looked like he made up a ton of ground. It's Tribe 1-2-3 batters up now, 4-2 Tribe lead.

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Ball four to Hissey. It's Sarty, who's been hot all game, to the plate with bases loaded and two outs, top 9. Insurance would be huge here.

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Third baseman redeems himself after 2 earlier errors, diving to the bag to beat a sliding @Ryan_Brown006. Three outs for the win. Bot. 9 up.

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Out #1 recorded, Shaw with difficult throw to first. 4-2 Tribe lead, one out, bottom nine.

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Out #2 recorded, Wainmen collects and throw to first just in time. 4-2 Tribe lead, bottom nine.

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Now it's Ole Miss on first and second. Wainmen hits batter. Tribe lead 4-2, two outs. Rebels best hitter up. #raleighregional

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

TRIBE WIN.

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

Game #2 for @WMTribeBaseball is tomorrow (June 1) at 7 p.m. They'll face the winner of N.C. State – Binghamton. #raleighregional #CAApride

— Flat Hat Sports (@FlatHatSports) May 31, 2013

We're dancing!!!!!! #rolltribe

— Michael Katz (@Kat_Daddy25) May 27, 2013

Katz wasn’t alone, and #rolltribe quickly gained momentum. Sophomore pitcher J.T. Castner Tweeted:

Never been so amped in my life! Got that at large bid!!! We dancin! Headed to the tourney!!!! #regionals #rolltribe

— #RollTribe (@JTC_3) May 27, 2013

and the Major League Fan Cave even got involved, sending:

@WMTribeBaseball @tribeathletics Good luck the rest of the way.

— MLB Fan Cave (@MLBFanCave) May 27, 2013

It wasn’t long before the reality set in, and the tone once again became business like. The team’s Twitter account released this Tweet shortly after the at-large announcement:

Time to get back to work… #TribeBall

— TribeBaseball (@WMTribeBaseball) May 27, 2013

It’s been the ability to balance celebration with a workmanlike attitude that’s helped the College (37-22, 17-10 CAA) find success. The program’s 37 wins tie the program’s all-time mark for victories set in a season, last seen in 2007. For the first time since 1938, the College had a pitcher — senior John Farrell — win 10 games, which ultimately helped the team win its first-ever at-large bid.

The bus doesn't stop here…Tribe heads to Raleigh for NCAA Regional appearance #TribeBall #GoTribe

— TribeBaseball (@WMTribeBaseball) May 27, 2013

If it’s head coach Jamie Pinzino at the wheel of the “bus,” he doesn’t see the need to slow down or stop.

“Obviously, we are really excited to have the chance to continue our season. I am extremely proud of every player in our program; they deserve this moment as they have bought into the program since day one,” Pinzino said to TribeAthletics.com. “This is a great step for William and Mary baseball and hopefully a sign of things to come in Williamsburg for years to come.”

The program’s third trip to the NCAA Championship marks the first at-large entry, having qualified in 1983 (East Coast Athletic Conference South) and 2001 (CAA) as conference champions with automatic bids. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Jason Inghram will lead the Tribe into its first matchup against Mississippi today at 2 p.m.

While Pinzino and his staff prepare for today’s match in the Raleigh Regional, The Flat Hat sports desk recaps the road to the regional — the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament.

College walks-off to top James Madison in thriller, 20-19

Pitcher: senior Matt Wainman (W)

Player of the game: freshman catcher Ryan Hissey

Key statistic: 13 players hit by a pitch, ties NCAA record for most HBP in single game

Pitching took the backseat in a game that saw a tournament-record 45 hits as the Dukes and Tribe combined for 39 runs. Ultimately, Hissey’s two-out, walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning sealed the win for the College.

Farrell started the game for the Tribe, giving up three runs in as many innings. An 11-run third inning, which saw the College send 18 batters to the plate, helped take pressure off of Farrell as the Tribe leapt to a 12-3 lead through three innings. With the weather worsening, officials postponed the game overnight.

The following morning, James Madison punished the College’s bullpen, scoring seven runs in the fourth inning before tying the game at 12 apiece in the fifth inning. From the fifth to the ninth inning, both teams struggled to gain an advantage over the other. With the Tribe trailing 19-16 heading into the bottom of the ninth, junior second baseman Ryan Lindemuth drove in the tying runs. Hissey stepped up to the plate, knocking a single to centerfield for the 20-19 victory.

The win also marked an NCAA record, as 13 players were hit by a pitch. Pinging batters all game, the Tribe and Tigers are now dubious owners of an odd statistic.

Towson pulls away for 20-13 win

Pitcher: sophomore Jason Inghram (L)

Player of the game: junior second baseman Ryan Lindemuth

Key statistic: 4 Tribe errors

Although Lindemuth continued to play well at the plate, notching four hits and three runs, the College’s offense couldn’t reproduce its production from earlier in the day against James Madison. Instead, Towson plated runs in every inning except the second and seventh, outgunning the Tribe for the 20-13 win.

Freshman Mitchell Aker, sophomore JT Castner, junior John Sheehan and freshman Joseph Gaouette each saw time on the bump for the College. However, as in the James Madison game that morning, the bullpen failed to shut down the opponent’s offense. The loss set up the Tribe for an elimination game against Northeastern. A win would advance the squad to the championship, while a loss would end the season.

Tribe downs Northeastern 12-4 to advance to finals

Pitcher: senior John Farrell (W)

Player of the game: senior closer Matt Wainman

Key statistic: 16 hits, as the College bats stayed hot

Needing a win, Pinzino turned to his ace, and Farrell didn’t disappoint, allowing four runs on seven hits. Perhaps most importantly, Farrell lasted six innings, allowing the bullpen some much-needed rest. After Farrell left the game, Wainman closed out the game with three innings of no-hit baseball to ensure the 12-4 win and advancement to the title game.

Offensively, the Tribe continued to pound out hits. Every field player recorded a hit en-route to more than doubling Northeastern’s hit total. Knotted up at four apiece in the sixth inning, Lindemuth’s three-run blast to right field opened up the game. The College wouldn’t look back, advancing to the CAA Championship for the first time since 2001, when it won the conference.

College falls 5-2 in CAA Championship game

Pitcher: senior Brett Koehler (L)

Player of the game: senior pitcher Brett Koehler

Key statistic: No. 2 seed, same as position team exits tournament with

Facing a team twice in the same tournament is tough, let alone beating that team twice. Towson took advantage of starter Mike Volpe’s nine innings of two-run pitching to claim the conference title 5-2.

Senior Brett Koehler took the mound for the College, allowing just three runs on 11 hits through eight innings. Trailing 3-2 heading into the ninth inning, the Tigers scored two runs off of Wainman. The College’s offense couldn’t find a spark in the ninth, as the season ended with a second-place finish in the conference. Any hope of playing in the NCAA Championship now rested in receiving an at-large bid from the NCAA selection committee.

Follow @FlatHatSports for the latest information during the College’s post-season run in the NCAA Championship. Check back with Flathatnews.com for coverage and analysis following the Raleigh Regional.

William and Mary News reports that Comey graduated with a double major in chemistry and religion. He was the guest speaker at the 2003 and 2009 Opening Convocation ceremonies. After speaking at 2008 Charter Day ceremony, he received an honorary doctor of laws degree. Comey was a member of the William and Mary Alumni Association’s Board of Directors from 2008 to 2012. He was awarded one of the highest honors the College of William and Mary gives for public service in 2011 — being named the Carter O. Lowance Fellow.

Comey will replace current director Robert Mueller, who was the College’s 2013 convocation speaker. Mueller has held the position since 2001, making him the longest serving director of the FBI since J. Edgar Hoover.

From National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship appearances to transfers to resignations, the College has seen it all in the month of May. The Flat Hat sports desk takes stock of the latest happenings in Tribe athletics.

Women’s tennis: Texas downs Tribe 4-0, Belaya and Loomans advance to Round of 16 in doubles play

After winning the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, the College’s No. 44 squad traveled to Charlottesville to take on No. 18 Texas, winners of the Big 12 Conference, in the first round of the NCAA Championship. Texas rallied to claim the doubles point before taking the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 spots in individual play to end the Tribe’s season.

Continue reading here.

Football: Reeves transfers to College

Head coach Jimmye Laycock and his staff won’t begin the season until Aug. 31, when they travel to Morgantown to face West Virginia. That doesn’t mean the staff is on vacation, however. The program announced that redshirt sophomore Christian Reeves had transferred from Virginia Tech to the College, where he will enroll in classes this summer.

Continue reading here.

Track and Field: Balouris and Stites continue to NCAA Championships

After sweeping the Colonial Athletic Association conference meet on both the men’s and women’s sides, bids to advance to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship came quickly. Athletes needed to finish in the top 12 slots of their event to advance from the NCAA East Preliminaries to the NCAA Championship, held in Eugene, Oregon.

Continue reading here.

Basketball: Burchfield commits to Tribe

Word that head coach Tony Shaver garnered a commitment from Connor Burchfield should excite returning members of Shaver’s squad. The six-foot, four-inch shooting guard brings a reputation of high basketball intelligence and an ability to light up the scoreboard.

Continue reading here.

Lacrosse: Ireland resigns, search for replacement begins

Head coach Brooke Ireland resigned after two seasons at the helm of the lacrosse program. Ireland recorded a 9-24 overall record, 4-10 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Continue reading here.

Baseball: At-large bid advances College to NCAA Regional

After losing to Towson 5-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship, the College (37-22, 17-10 CAA) received its first ever at-large bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship. Bracketed in the Raleigh Regional with North Carolina State, Binghamton and Mississippi, the third ranked Tribe opens play against Mississippi Friday, May 31 at 2 p.m.

Continue reading here.

Follow @Flathatsports for up-to-date scores, news, and information of all things related to the College’s athletic programs. 

“Obviously, we are really excited to have the chance to continue our season. I am extremely proud of every player in our program; they deserve this moment as they have bought into the program since day one,” head coach Jamie Pinzino said to TribeAthletics.com. “This is a great step for William and Mary baseball and hopefully a sign of things to come in Williamsburg for years to come.”

Editor’s take: Check back with Flathatnews.com for more on baseball’s incredible run to the NCAA Raleigh Regional. For now, first year head coach Jamie Pinzino and staff can enjoy the limelight. Should the squad’s pitching staff perform to its full potential, the Tribe could make a deep run.

“The decision to step away at this time does not come easily. I have a great passion for this sport and, especially, this group of Tribe student-athletes, but I know the moment has come where I can no longer divide time between coaching and my family at home,” Ireland said in a press release. “I have truly enjoyed the experience at William and Mary and will always hold a special place in my heart for the young women whom I’ve had the pleasure to coach.”

William and Mary Athletic Director saw Ireland’s stint as instrumental to a growing program.

“Her dedication and professionalism guided the program through a difficult time of transition and provided a sound foundation on which a bright future can be built,” Driscoll said in a press release. “While we will miss her leadership, I wish the very best for Brooke and her family in the future.”

A national search for Ireland’s replacement is underway.

Editor’s take: Ireland steps down after a rough two years which saw just nine overall wins; only four conference victories. That won’t cut it in the CAA. The College can help itself by not scheduling so many out-of-conference games against teams ranked in the top tier of the nation every season. While travel costs limit the team’s range, surely there are other schools willing to play the College.

“It’s a great fit for him,” Burchfield’s high school coach Scott Brewer said to the Independent Tribune. “William & Mary has an academic and athletic package second to none in the nation. This is going to be a good situation for him.”

Editor’s take: In the physical Colonial Athletic Association, extra size isn’t a bad thing. Although we have yet to see Burchfield in a Tribe uniform — let alone sign — the commitment appears to help out a program looking to mesh talent into a cohesive unit capable of winning a conference title.

The men’s program sent seven athletes to the East Preliminaries, none of whom finished high enough to advance to the finals. Senior Josh Hardin battled a rainy and tough field to finish six seconds shy of advancement, crossing the line in 14th place in the 10,000 meter run. Freshman Bob Smutsky threw two personal bests in the javelin toss, but finished three spots out of qualification.

On the women’s side, junior Elaina Balouris finds herself in familiar territory. Balouris’ 33 minute, 43 second 10,000 meter run placed her ninth in the East Preliminary, advancing her to the NCAA Championship for the second year in a row. The time also qualifies Balouris for the United States of America Track and Field Senior Championships.

Freshman Emily Stites joins Balouris in Eugene after her 16:12 5,000 meter time won an automatic qualification to the NCAA Championships. Stites, whose freshman year has far exceeded even her own expectations, will conclude her season June 7 at 9:15 p.m. Balouris will run two days earlier, at 10:10 p.m. June 5.

Editor’s take: The College’s most successful program continues to shine. Sweeping the conference cross country and track and field titles this past fall and spring, the season still isn’t over. Stites, the program’s brightest star, looks to take home another national title in the 5,000 meter run. Balouris, who will head back to Williamsburg for her senior year, returns to the national stage for a second time in as many years. If you’re in Oregon, make the trip to Eugene and see the best William and Mary has to offer on the track.

Coming out of high school, Rivals ranked Reeves as the No. 29 tight end in the country, while ESPN and Scout, Inc. ranked Reeves as the No. 35 tight end. Redshirting his freshman year, Reeves appeared in ten games as a Hokie last season.

Editor’s take: Following a season of dysfunctional offensive football, Laycock made the move to bring in highly touted offensive coordinator Kevin Rodgers. If the spring game was any indication, the offense still needs major improvement for a serious run at the Colonial Athletic Association conference title. Reeves adds a six-foot, three-inch, 210-pound target to a receiving corps in need of size. Whomever Laycock lines up behind center should be pleased with the addition. It’s another step in the right direction for a team looking to avoid another 2-9 campaign.

Despite the setback, head coach Tyler Thomson led the College to a 17-6 overall record, while winning the program’s 22nd conference title. Thomson, however, wasn’t done coaching yet; he still had two athletes competing in the national championship.

Junior Maria Belaya drew No. 20 Kyle McPhillips (University of California, Los Angeles) in the first round of the NCAA Singles Championship, held at the Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex in Urbana, Ill. McPhillips won handedly, 6-1, 6-1. Belaya ended her singles campaign with a 21-13 overall record, ranked as high as No. 116 nationally.

The following day, Belaya again took to the court. This time, however, junior Jeltje Loomans joined her in the opening round of the NCAA Doubles Championship as the No. 13 seed. Belaya and Loomans took on Pleun Burgmans and Plamena Kurteva, the No. 10 pair out of Auburn. Using early breaks in both sets, Belaya and Loomans won the match 6-3, 6-4, advancing to the Round of 16.

No. 3 seed Nebraska, also the No. 3 duo in the nation, faced the College in the next round the following day. Dropping the first set in a tiebreaker 7-6 (3), Belaya and Loomans rallied to win the second set 6-4. Down to the decisive third set, the Cornhuskers Patricia Veresova and Mary Weatherholt claimed the match with a 6-2 set victory. Finishing a round short of All-American status, the Tribe’s tennis season came to a close.

Editor’s take: Despite winning just once in the NCAA Championship, keep in mind that the program won yet another CAA title, grabbed a player of the year recognition (Belaya), and sent players to both the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championship. All of this came in Thomson’s first year at the helm. If these are the results after just one year, the ceiling is high, as both Belaya and Loomans return for their senior years.