WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Visiting Norfolk State out-hit William & Mary 7-6, but four Spartan errors led to five unearned runs as NSU fell to the Tribe by a 6-1 score at Plumeri Park on Tuesday night.

Senior Brian Beard had three hits at the plate and pitched a career-high 6.2 innings in defeat for NSU (9-13), which saw its four-game winning streak come to an end. The Tribe improved to 14-10.

The final five runs that W&M scored were unearned due to four untimely NSU errors. With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Tribe first baseman Matthew Tilley put the Tribe ahead to stay with a two-out RBI double. Tilley's hit scored Brandon Raquet, who reached on the second of two Spartan errors earlier in the inning.

W&M scored four times in the bottom of the seventh to add to its lead. Raquet reached on a one-out error and scored on Mathew Trehub's RBI single. With two outs, Trehub scored on a wild pitch and two more runs scored when NSU misplayed Cullen Large's fly ball to put the Tribe ahead 6-1.

The Spartans scored their only run of the game in the top of the first. Andre' Moore reached on a fielder's choice, and after a single by Beard, Justin Burrell hit an RBI single to help the Spartans get off to a strong start.

The Tribe tied the game at 1-1 in the third on Ryan Hall's sacrifice fly.

The loss spoiled a strong two-way effort from Beard (0-2). The senior right hander, who hadn't pitched more than four-plus innings in his career, lasted 6.2 innings and allowed just six hits and one earned run (five total). He walked just one and struck out two. Beard was also 3-for-4 at the plate.

Daniel Powers (2-2) earned the win for W&M. He pitched six innings and gave up six hits while striking out five. Charlie Fletcher pitched two scoreless innings and Robert White pitched a scoreless ninth for the Tribe, who got three hits from Hall.

The Spartans return to conference play with a three-game series at Coppin State this Saturday and Sunday. The teams are tied atop the MEAC Northern Division with identical 4-2 league records.