Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. – Behind a clutch pitching effort and two RBI from Cameron Day, Norfolk State broke a 20-year drought against William & Mary, topping the Tribe 3-1 on Wednesday evening at Marty L. Miller Field.

Chris Horne picked up his first win as a Spartan, matching his season high with seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings of relief work. Day and Justin Lee each had a pair of hits to help the Spartans (6-12) break a 25-game losing streak to the Tribe (15-8) dating to 1992. The victory was also NSU's fifth straight over the last nine days.

NSU plated the game's first run in the bottom of the third. Lee led off the inning with a single – the Spartans' first hit of the game – and advanced to third on a hit-and-run double to right by lead-off man James Taylor. Day knocked in Lee from third with an RBI groundout to put the Spartans ahead 1-0.

After Day's groundout, thunderstorms moved into the area, resulting in a two and a half hour inclement weather delay. The long layoff shortened the day for NSU sophomore right hander Jeff Di Fulgo, who pitched three scoreless innings to start the game. But Horne picked up where Di Fulgo left off, keeping the Tribe off the scoreboard until the ninth.

NSU added to its lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth. Lee again was the catalyst for the rally, leading off the frame with a single off of John Sheehan. Taylor then walked, and Chris Warren sacrificed both runners up one base. Day and Ryan Montgomery followed with consecutive RBI singles to score Lee and Taylor to make it 3-0 and give NSU some breathing room.

The Tribe didn't go away quietly in the ninth. Ryan Lindemuth led off with a double off of Horne, then Tadd Bower reached on a bunt single. Michael Katz knocked in a run with a fielder's choice grounder to cut the Tribe's deficit to 3-1. Stephen Arcure chased Horne from the game with a single, putting runners on the corners with just one out. But NSU reliever Richie Salter quashed the uprising by striking out Ryan Williams and pinch hitter Sean Aiken back-to-back to end the game.

Horne (1-2) allowed six hits and one run in 5.1 innings and did not walk a batter. Salter earned his first career save by recording the final two outs. The trio of Di Fulgo, Horne and Salter did not issue a walk and fanned nine.

Matt Houston (1-1) took the loss for the Tribe, allowing two hits and one run in 1.1 innings of relief work.
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Arcure and Ryan Brown had two hits each for W&M, which out-hit the Spartans 9-6. Day went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Lee was 2-for-3 with two runs scored for the Spartans

NSU travels to Maryland for a three-game MEAC series at Coppin State this Saturday and Sunday.