Large Homer Lifts W&M To 9-8 Win Over UNCW

5/29/2016 6:23:33 PM

Rob Washburn

Box Score

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. (May 29, 2016) – Cullen Large’s solo homer to lead off the 12^th inning gave second-seeded William & Mary a 9-8 victory over #1 UNCW on Sunday afternoon at the Ballpark at Patriots Point in the completion of a game delayed from Saturday.

The same two teams will meet for the conference title and automatic bid to the NCAA Baseball Championship at 6:30 p.m.

Large’s homer, which was his seventh of the season, completed a seven-run comeback for the Tribe. Trailing 8-1 in the ninth, Ryan Hall and Ryder Miconi got things started with back-to-back singles and Large followed with an RBI double. A two-run double by Charley Gould pulled the Tribe within 8-4 and he came around to score on Kyle Wrighte’s single. With the bases loaded, pinch hitter Owen Socher and Hall were hit by pitches to force in two more runs, and Miconi’s sacrifice fly to center tied the game at 8-8.

Tribe reliever Charlie Fletcher retired the Seahawks in order in the bottom of the ninth before play was halted due to weather. The game resumed at 5 p.m. on Sunday after a 27-hour delay.

UNCW appeared to have the game in control after scoring six runs in the third inning. Brian Mims drew a one-out walk and scored on Gavin Stupienski’s double down the right-field line. Nick Feight followed with his nation’s-best 87^th RBI of the year on a single to center. UNCW loaded the bases and first baseman Zack Canada delivered a double to left that increased the lead to 4-0. The Seahawks tacked on two more runs on a Robbie Thorburn sacrifice fly and Kennard McDowell’s RBI single.

W&M got on the board in the fourth. The Tribe loaded the bases on a one-out single by Hunter Smith, a hit batter and a Wrighte base hit. Charles Ameer then came through with an RBI single to right that made it 6-1.

UNCW extended its advantage to 7-1 in the eighth when Stupienski smacked his 13^th homer of the season over the wall in right.

W&M finished the game with 17 hits. Ameer was 4-for-5, while Large and Josh Smith each had three hits for the Tribe.

Stupienski led UNCW’s offense, going 5-for-7 with a double, homer and three RBI’s, while Daniel Stack went 3-for-5.

Jon Yoest (1-0) earned the win for W&M after two innings of scoreless relief.