William and Mary struck for three runs each in the seventh and eighth innings with five of the runs scoring unearned to rally from a 7-3 hole past James Madison 9-8 in the second game of a Colonial Athletic Association baseball series on Saturday afternoon at Plumeri Park.
W&M improved to 24-13 overall and 8-3 in the CAA. JMU lost its 10th game in a row to fall to 14-19 overall while also dropping to ninth place in the CAA at 6-10.
The Dukes led the Tribe in hits 14-8 but for the third straight game, had unearned runs play a significant role in the margin of loss.
JMU led 7-3 following sophomore Chad Carroll’s (Oakton, Va./Oakton) three-run home run in the seventh. However, W&M responded in the bottom half of the inning as the leadoff batter reached via an error, which was followed two outs later by a walk and a hit by pitch. Michael Katz then unloaded the bases with the inning’s only hit, a three-run double, all unearned, to make it 7-6.
Madison fought back to take an 8-6 lead on senior shortstop Casey Goss’ (Springfield, Mo./Glenville) RBI single in the eighth, but the inning ended with the bases loaded to prevent would could have been an important extra run or more.
In the bottom of the eighth, after a groundout, the Tribe pounded out three consecutive singles to make it a one-run game, the third being an RBI single for pinch hitter Jackson Shaver. Ryan Brown then reached on a throwing error with the tying run scoring on the play. William Shaw drove in the game-winning run with a bunt single.
John Sheehan earned the win for the Tribe as the only out he recorded was the one to escape the bases-loaded jam in the eighth. Matt Wainman pitched the ninth to pick up his second save in as many days and third of the season.
Junior Trent Cundiff (Roanoke, Va./Northside) took the loss after allowing six runs, just one earned, on five hits in two innings. Sophomore Patrick Toohers (Florham Park, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) was effective for six innings, allowing three runs on only three hits with four walks issued.
Carroll had a career-high six RBIs with a three-run double in the first to go along with his three-run homer in the seventh. Goss was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Senior designated hitter Cole McInturff (Centreville, Va./Westfield), redshirt junior first baseman Matt Tenaglia (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East), senior right fielder Colby Roberts (Benton, Ark./Benton) and senior catcher Bradley Shaban (Midlothian, Va./Cosby) each had a pair of hits for JMU.
In addition to Katz’s big three-run double, left fielder Jonathan Sarty had two hits and drove in two with a double. Shortstop Ryan Williams also had two hits for W&M.
The series finale will be Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
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