NEWARK, DE -- Senior righthander Chad Kerfoot (right) pitched his second career complete game and Bill Merkler added a home run and three RBI to lead the University of Delaware baseball team past the College of William & Mary, 8-4, in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup on Saturday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.

The win was the eighth straight for the Blue Hens (22-18, 13-9 CAA), including six straight in CAA play and nine straight at home. Alex Buchholz had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.

William & Mary (26-23, 11-14 CAA) posed the game’s first threat. In the top of the second, Robbie Nickle walked and then stole second. With two outs catcher Jeff Wera singled through the leftside and Nickle came charging towards home. Bryan Hagerich’s throw beat Nickle to the plate, and despite a nasty collision, Blue Hen catcher Ryan Engelhardt held on for the third out to keep the Tribe off the scoreboard.

The Tribe took the lead in the top of the third. Paul Juliano led off with a double and then came around to score on a double by Tim Park. After an intentional walk to Greg Sexton, Greg Maliniak hit a three-run homer off the batter’s eye in center to put the Tribe up 4-0.

Delaware got two back in the bottom of the third. After Kyle Davis got the Blue Hens’ initial hit, Ryan Jablonski reached second on an error by the third baseman Sexton. Brandon Menchaca then singled up the middle to bring home Davis and Jablonski.

The Hens added an unearned run in the fourth. With runners on first and second and one out, Tribe starter Sean Grieve threw away a pickoff attempt to second, advancing both runners. Engelhardt then singled up the middle to bring home a run before Grieve got Davis to ground into a double play to end the inning.

The Hens then took a 7-4 lead with a four-run fifth inning. Menchaca walked with one out, stole second and then scored on a single by Buchholz. Buchholz and Hagerich were on second and third with two outs when Bill Merkler crushed Grieve’s first offering over the wall in leftcenter for his sixth home run of the season and a three-run Delaware lead. The Hens added another unearned run in the seventh to go up 8-4 and providing the final margin.

Kerfoot’s complete game was the first of the season for the Blue Hens and improved his record to 3-2. Grieve took the loss for the William & Mary to fall to 2-4.

The Hens and Tribe wrap up their series tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Boxscore