Box Score NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The CNU baseball team built a 13-4 lead through eight innings and then had to withstand an eight-run ninth inning by Piedmont to take a 13-12 victory Friday at Captains Park.

The Captains used a six-run seventh inning themselves to take control, highlighted by a two-run single by Shannon Mark.

CNU jumped on top with three runs in the first inning and had a 4-2 margin through four before the Lions tied it on a two-run homer by Kevin McConnell, his second of the game.

But CNU bounced back with a three-run fifth, with Luke Saunders delivering the big blow on a two-run homer.

Piedmont's big inning came from just five hits, as CNU made three errors and the Captains walked two.

Mark had two hits and two RBIs, as did Saunders. Connor Madden had a pair of hits, including his first home run of the year. Drue Vernon and Matt Shoemaker also had two hits apiece.

Tyler McElhenney got the victory in his first start of the year. Chris Malvagna got his first save by striking out McConnell with two runners aboard.

The Captains host Rowan at 10 a.m. Saturday at Captains Park.

The box score