TOWSON, Md. – The Towson offense hit for the cycle in the eighth inning as the Tigers scored eight runs in the frame, erasing a one-run deficit, in defeating William & Mary, 13-7, in the series opener Friday afternoon at Schuerholz Park.
After the Tribe took a one-run lead with a bases-loaded infield single in the top of the eighth,
Mark Grunberg singled into the hole at second base. After a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch moved him to third,
Richie Blosser blooped a single into right field to tie the game.
That would turn out to just be the beginning as freshman
Chris Ruszin delivered his first career extra-base hit, a double into the gap in left center to give the Tigers the lead. After a
Brady Policelli single,
Colin Gimblet plated two runs with a double deep into the gap in right center.
First baseman
Brendan Butler followed that by ripping the next pitch into right center for an RBI triple. The hot-hitting
Peter Bowles was intentionally walked ahead of pinch-hitter
A.J. Gallo's three-run blast to right center.
The game started with the Tribe (12-14, 5-2 CAA) get three-straight two-out extra-base hits in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead.
Towson (7-20 2-5 CAA) answered back in the home-half of the inning on a Blosser two-run double to right field. The Tigers took the lead in the third on a Bowles RBI double to left field.
WM regained the lead in the fourth inning after Ryan Hissey's RBI triple to straight-away center field capped a three-run inning.
Policelli pulled Towson within one run in the fifth with a solo home run to left field, then tied the game in the sixth after drawing a walk with the bases loaded.
Bruce Zimmermann (2-2) picked up the victory in relief, allowing one run on two hits over the final 1.1 innings.
Nick Cioffi did a great job keeping Towson in the game through the middle innings. He gave up just one run on four hits over 3.2 innings.
Bryson Kauhaahaa (2-2) suffered the loss after giving up eight runs on seven hits over 1.1 innings.
Blosser led the attack Friday by going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Policelli, Butler and Grunberg each added two hits.
The teams will play the middle game of the three-game series Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.