WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Norfolk State got out to an early 4-0 lead, but the William & Mary bats proved to be too much in a 10-4 Tribe victory on Tuesday night at Plumeri Park.

The loss was the second in a row for the Spartans (12-21), while W&M improved to 14-23.

After a scoreless first inning, the two teams erupted for 10 total runs in the second. The Spartans pounded out five hits to produce four runs in the frame off Tribe starter Justin Pearson. Stephen Baughan led off with a double and scored on a double by Tony Leite. After Leite stole third, catcher Ismael Herrera plated Leite with a squeeze bunt. 

That was the second out of the inning, but the Spartans weren't done. Mikey Delgado and Johnny Mayer reached on consecutive singles and both moved up a base on a wild pitch. Justin Hayes then singled in both runners to give the Spartans a 4-0 lead.

But the Tribe quickly answered, using four hits and three walks to surge into the lead. After Zach Pearson led off the inning by singling against NSU starter Quenten Thomas (0-2), Craig McLane walked and both runners moved up a base on a balk. Patrick Ryan's sacrifice fly put W&M on the board, and Brandon Raquet followed with an RBI triple. Raquet scored on a two-out wild pitch to bring the Tribe within 4-3.

Ryan Hall and Matt McDermott then drew consecutive walks before Hunter Smith's three-run homer capped the six-run rally and gave the Tribe the lead.

W&M stretched its lead to 7-4 on Raquet's RBI double in the fifth. He and McLane both hit RBI singles in a three-run seventh that accounted for the final margin.

The Spartans could only manage one hit after the second inning, and none after the fourth as the Tribe pitchers retired the final 16 Spartans they faced. Delgado (2-for-3, run scored) had his first career multi-hit game for NSU. Hayes had two RBIs and a stolen base, his 20th of the season.

Raquet was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, and Zach Pearson and Colin Lipke both had two hits for W&M.

Nick Butts (3-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the win, while Jacob Haney worked three hitless innings to earn the save for the Tribe. 

Thomas (0-2) took the loss for NSU after giving up six runs in two innings.

The Spartans resume MEAC Northern Division play this Saturday and Sunday with a three-game set at division leader Coppin State.