Norfolk State University Athletics

2021 (Sophomore): Saw action in 12 games and started 10 times … Was 1-3 with a 7.31 ERA and fanned 43 batters in 44.1 innings … Struck out four in three innings of work in his first appearance of the year, at ODU … Got the win and struck out a career-high nine batters against NCCU … Pitched six innings and gave up just two earned runs that day … Struck out seven over five innings in a no-decision against Morehead State … Pitched a season-long eight innings and allowed two earned runs with five strikeouts in a no-decision against Delaware State … Took another no-decision against Coppin State in mid-April despite allowing just two earned runs over 6.1 innings … Struck out four batters in 4.1 innings of relief in the NCAA regional elimination game against Maryland … Named to the NSU Athletics Director’s Honor Roll for both semesters and was selected to the MEAC All-Academic Team.

2020 (COVID): Appeared in three games on the mound with one start … Recorded a 1.17 ERA over 7.2 innings with eight strikeouts … Opened the year allowing one earned run (three total) with five strikeouts in five innings of work against Wagner … Worked two-thirds of an inning scoreless at Kentucky … Pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts out of the bullpen at Old Dominion … Named to the NSU Athletics Director’s Honor Roll for the spring semester and was selected to the MEAC All-Academic Team.

2019 (Freshman): Made 20 appearances in his rookie campaign, all out of the bullpen … Logged a 1-0 record and 4.50 ERA in 28 innings worked … Allowed just 19 hits and a .192 opponents’ batting average … Fanned 25 hitters … Pitched a scoreless inning at JMU in his collegiate debut … Tallied scoreless appearances against Md. Eastern Shore (1.0 IP, 2 strikeouts) and Coppin State (1.1 IP, 1 K) in the first month of the season … Struck out three over two innings without allowing a hit in the team’s loss to Longwood … Earned his lone win and decision of the season at Md. Eastern Shore in early May … Struck out two in a scoreless inning of work in that outing … Pitched the final game of the MEAC Tournament championship round vs. Florida A&M … Came out of the bullpen with no outs in the top of the first inning and pitched all nine innings … Allowed just five hits and two runs, one earned, with no walks and a season-high five strikeouts … Named to the NSU Athletics Director’s Honor Roll for both semesters … Played briefly with the Woodstock River Bandits of the Valley Baseball League during the summer.

High School: Four-year letterwinner … As a senior, was a first-team All-Region 5B selection … Also earned second-team All-State 5A and All-Metro honors by the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Personal: Justin Brandon Walton was born on Sept. 25, 2000 … Son of Latrisha Higgins … Majoring in business marketing.