WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – William & Mary baseball posted a dominant victory over in-state foe Norfolk State on Tuesday, as the pitching staff combined for the second two-hitter in four games and the offense scored double-digit runs for the fifth time in the last six games.

W&M took the run-rule victory, 13-2, as Joe Delossantos doubled off the left-field wall to score two in the bottom of the eighth inning, ending the Tribe's night in its seventh-straight victory.

The Tribe continues to chase after the best start since the 2019 team, which went 12-1 through the first 13 games, as it advanced to an impressive 7-1 record on the season. Norfolk State fell to 2-6.

Head coach Mike McRae cited the high expectations that were set for a pitching staff which finished ninth in the nation in ERA a season ago as it entered the 2024 campaign, and the Tribe continue to prove themselves as dominant a staff as any.

Entering today's game ranked in the nation's top 25 in multiple statistics, including No. 9 in hits allowed per nine innings (5.48), Zack Potts, Noah Hertzler, Travis Garnett and Mark Hindy held their opponent to two just hits and two runs while fanning 11 Spartans.

Following a combined shutout performance on Sunday and the team's first two-hitter since 2019 on the Friday prior, pitching coach Daniel Sweeney's rotation is proving to be lethal.

Combined with a deep, powerful lineup, W&M baseball has put together an impressive seven-game win streak, posting 73 runs in the first eight games.

Delossantos led the offensive charge for the Tribe, going 3-5 with four RBI in his sixth multi-hit game of the year, including barreling his run-rule inducing double and his fourth home run of the season.

Ben Parker tallied three RBI, three runs and two walks and a pair of hits of his own, while Luca Trigiani drove in three runs.

Zack Potts made a statement in his first start in the Green & Gold in his third appearance, beginning the game with a pair of perfect innings. He, along with Garnett and Hindy, made appearances in both of the Tribe's combined two-hitters. 

The Tribe opened the game by scoring in each of the first four innings, including a four-run second frame, to lift them to victory.

Anthony Greco, reigning CAA Rookie of the Week, started the scoring for the Tribe with a sacrifice fly to score Parker in the opening inning. Freshman infielder Kevin Francella belted the first pitch he saw for an infield single to reach base and scored as Trigiani ripped an RBI single through the five hole.

Lucas Carmichael doubled up the first base line and Parker followed with a double of his own to score Trigiani and Carmichael. Sophomore Jerry Barnes III saw to the Tribe's third consecutive double, driving in Parker for the four-spot.

Hertzler took over on the mound after three, going 2.0 innings and only allowing one hit to lead off the fifth before hastily retiring the side.

After scoring once more in the third, back-to-back hits by Parker and Delossantos to the tune of an 0-1 single and a 2-run home run added two more in the fourth inning, bringing the game to an 8-0 lead.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of four, Trigiani walked in a run for the Green & Gold, scoring Barnes.
Greco notched his second RBI in the seventh as he looped a single to right-center field to score Delossantos.
In a final burst of effort from the Tribe's hot bats, three more runs scored on an RBI base-on-balls from Parker and Delossantos' win-clinching double.

Hindy shut down the Spartans in the final two innings, facing only seven batters and not allowing any hits. His only baserunner was a walk in the seventh inning, before ending the game with an eight-pitch final frame.
 
Up Next
W&M closes out its seven-game homestand with three opponents this weekend, as it hosts Central Connecticut State, Boston College and Sacred Heart as a part of the Central Virginia Classic on Friday-Sunday, March 1-3.
 
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