Saturday, March 21, William and Mary’s baseball (11-12, 3-3 CAA) edged out a 6-5 win against Coastal Athletic Association rival North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (5-18, 2-7 CAA) at Pulmeri Park in Williamsburg, Va. As the Tribe’s second win of the weekend, this game helped the Green and Gold secure a series victory against the Aggies.
The Aggies started the game on top, scoring a run in the first inning after a double by sophomore outfielder Savori Edwards. The 1-0 lead held by the Aggies, however, did not last for long.
In the bottom of the second inning, consecutive hits by senior outfielder Charlie Iriotakis and redshirt freshman infielder Matthew Kosuda allowed the Tribe to take second and third base, respectively. With the Tribe now threatening, redshirt freshman outfielder Sam Kaczmarek hit a groundout to second base, allowing Iriotakis to bring in the Tribe’s first run of the game and tie the score at 1-1.
The Tribe did not stop there, however, with a double by freshman pitcher and infielder Jett Humphreys bringing Kosuda home and giving the home team a 2-1 edge.
After sophomore pitcher Zach Boyd made short work of the Aggies in the top of the third, recording his first strikeout of the game, the Tribe’s offense continued its hot hitting from the previous inning. The Tribe managed two hits in the third but failed to extend its one-run lead.
In the fourth, Boyd recorded his second strikeout, recording nine outs in a row with him at the mound. However, the Aggies mounted a two-out rally, putting themselves back in the lead with a two-run double from freshman infielder Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez’s double marked the end of the afternoon for Boyd, with freshman Charlie Seneker replacing him on the mound.
In the fifth inning, the Tribe managed to prevent the Aggies from extending their lead, with redshirt junior catcher Witt Scafidi catching an attempted NC A&T base-stealer. This marked his fourth runner caught on the season.
The Aggies’ sloppiness provided the Tribe a way back into the game.
Graduate student infielder Connor Chavez, who got on base with a walk, sprinted home to tie the score at 3-3 after a wild pitch from graduate student pitcher Diego Barrett. Redshirt sophomore infielder Trey Christman, who was also walked, stole second base, marking his sixth steal of the season. The Aggies walked one more player before the inning ended.
“It’s mostly from the pitching,” Humphreys said, referring to maintaining the lead. “We capitalize on their missed pitches. Get good hits. Get the guys that we need to get in. Get those runs scored.”
The bottom of the sixth proved fruitful for the Tribe.
Kaczmarek scored on a sacrifice bunt by Chavez, giving William and Mary a 4-3 lead. Freshman outfielder Chase Ecker then stole second base. However, the inning ended before the Tribe could bring home any more runs.
After a change of pitchers from head coach Rob McCoy, Humphreys, previously on third base, replaced Seneker in the seventh inning. After a bunt, redshirt junior catcher Witt Scafidi threw to sophomore infielder Daisuke Miyama to intercept a runner at third base. Although the runner was called safe, William and Mary’s coaches immediately challenged the play. Upon review, the challenge was successful, and the runner was called out.
The Aggies tied the score at 4-4 in the seventh inning with an RBI-single from senior outfielder Nick DiCarlo, heavily pressuring the Tribe with the bases loaded on one out. However, Humphreys struck out a batter and ended the long inning with a pop fly to first base.
Humphreys reflected on his approach to high-pressure situations.
“I don’t really feel any way towards it, and it’s kind of a weird thing, I never really have,” he said.. “I just rely on what I’ve been doing my entire life and fill up the zone and see what they can do with it.”
Looking to regain control of the game, the Tribe once again took advantage of the Aggies’ fielding mishaps. A throwing error from sophomore catcher Tyler Smith resulted in a double for Iriotakis, bringing in Christman and giving the Tribe a 5-4 lead.
A wild pitch from graduate student pitcher Kobie Cushing allowed Iriotakis to take third base, and Scafidi ran home for another run. This increased the Tribe’s lead to two runs and provided much-needed breathing room.
The eighth inning saw William and Mary’s second change of pitchers, with freshman pitcher Connor Jernigan taking the mound.
Refusing to back down, NC A&T cut the lead to one run after a homer from senior outfielder Andrew Tinsley. Jernigan kept the damage at bay. However, a pop-up caught by redshirt sophomore Kevin Francella at third was followed by a quick throw to first, and a grounder to first ended the top of the eighth.
Despite having runners on second and third with only one out, the Tribe failed to extend its lead heading into the top of the ninth.
Jernigan closed out the Aggies at the top of the ninth, striking out two batters and earning his first save of the season.
After defeating NC A&T and bringing its CAA record back to .500, the Tribe looks to secure another victory in its series against North Carolina Wilmington (16-8, 5-1 CAA). William and Mary will face the Seahawks from Friday, March 27, to Sunday, March 29, at Brooks Field in Wilmington, N.C.
“Keep pushing hard, keep playing like we’re doing right now, and I think it’ll lead to another victory,” Humphreys said.
