WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – UMBC sophomore catcher Manny Colon (Williamstown, N.J./Buena Regional) smacked a three-RBI double in the top of the sixth to give UMBC the lead, but William and Mary answered with nine runs in the bottom half of the inning and took game two of the three-game series, 15-6, Saturday afternoon at Plumeri Park.

Freshman outfielder Andrew Casali (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) hit his first career home run, a two-run shot, in the top of the eight to record his first career hit.

William and Mary (5-4) reliever Nick Brown (1-0) earned the win after entering in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded.  The freshman right-hander tossed three innings giving up just one earned run on four hits.

Sophomore Riley Stephenson (Frederick, Md./Boonsboro) took the loss of UMBC (0-2), after giving up the first three runs of the game-changing sixth inning.  Classmate Michael Gomez (Nutley, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) was no-decisioned after working 3.2 innings and yielding three runs on five hits.

The hosts got on the board early, taking the lead in the bottom of the first on a two-out RBI double to left by Michael Katz.  The Tribe added to their lead two innings later as Ryan Lindemuth and Kevin Nutter added an RBI each to push the lead to 3-0.

Both teams left a runner on base in the fourth inning and went down easily in the fifth.  UMBC then made a stirring comeback with junior Vince Corbi (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) starting the rally by poking a single to right and sophomore shortstop Kevin Lachance (Clifton, Va./Centreville) following with a base hit to center.  Junior Anthony Gatto (Hauppauge, N.Y./Smithtown West) then stroked a single to left to load the bases and then classmate Jake Barnes (Annandale, Va./Annandale) pushed a single to right field to put UMBC on the board.  Colon then yanked a double to right to clear the bases and give the Retrievers the lead, 4-3, but the catcher was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.

William and Mary came back immediately, however, scoring nine times in the bottom half of the frame to reclaim the lead, 12-4.  Derek Lowe drove in two with a double to center to give the hosts the lead, and then capped the scoring in the inning with a two-RBI single to left. 

In the top of the seventh, sophomore Mark Esposito (Bethany, Conn./Amity Regional) led off with a single to center, but he was stranded there as the next three Retriever batters grounded out.  The Tribe added three more runs in the bottom half as Katz hit his fifth home run of the season, a three-run shot to center.

Casali answered for the Black and Gold in the top of the eighth, drilling a two-run homer over the centerfield fence, bringing in Gatto who had reached on a dropped third strike.

UMBC and William and Mary conclude the weekend series at Plumeri Park on Sunday afternoon.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

DAWG BITES

-          With the win, William and Mary takes the series and ups its all-time record against UMBC to 12-2.

-          Casali is the second Retriever in three years to connect for a home run for his first career UMBC hit (Ian Glassman vs. Georgetown, 2-24-12).

-          Lachance, Gatto, Colon, and Esposito all collected multi-hit games.

-          Red-shirt junior Jonny Dierks (Easton, Md./Independence/Fort Scott CC) made his first career appearance for UMBC, pitching the eighth.

-          Senior D.J. Smith (Millersville, Md./Old Mill) drew a walk in his first plate appearance of the year.