UNCW will have to await NCAA selection show after William & Mary wins CAA Baseball Championship

MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (UNCW) — Josh Smith’s grand slam with two outs in the eighth inning lifted William & Mary to a 14-9 win over UNCW as the Tribe earned the Colonial Athletic Association’s automatic berth to the NCAA tournament by winning the league tournament.

The Tribe (29-29) won the tournament after dropping their opener and rallying to win their next four games. UNCW dropped to 39-17 and will await to hear its name called on Monday by the NCAA selection committee.

Smith, who was named Most Outstanding Player, finished with seven runs batted in while going 3-for-5 at the plate including a two-run double earlier in the game. Hunter Smith added three hits and drove in three runs himself.

Reliever Charlie Fletcher (3-2) picked up the win for the Tribe.

UNCW’s Clay Lockamon was the tough luck loser as he dipped to 0-2. The lefthander allowed one run on two hits over 3.2 innings.

Zach Canada, who earned All-Tournament honors, had two hits for the Seahawks while Nick Feight homered and drove in three runs. Casey Golden added a home run.

The Tribe forced a second championship game with a 9-8 win in the first game of the championship round. Cullen Large gave W&M a 9-8 lead with a leadoff home run in the top of the 12th inning.

Up next: The Seahawks (39-17) hope to find out if they’ll get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament on Monday when the tournament field is announced at noon on ESPNU.

Home Runs: UNCW – Feight (off Brown in the first inning with one out and one on), Golden (off Brown, one out, none on); W&M – J. Smith (off Easter in the eighth inning, three on, two out)

How it happened: Ryan Hall led off the eighth inning with a walk and after UNCW recorded two outs, Austin Easter walked two batters before allowing the grand slam to Smith.

All-Tournament Team: David Hopkins, Northeastern; Aaron Civale, Northeastern; Bailey Ober, College of Charleston; Tommy Richter, College of Charleston; Gavin Stupienski, UNCW; Ryan Foster, UNCW; Steven Linkous, UNCW; Zack Canada, UNCW; Hunter Smith, William & Mary; Dan Powers, William & Mary; Charles Ameer, William & Mary; Josh Smith, William & Mary – Most Outstanding Performer