Box Score NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The CNU baseball team broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the bottom of the eighth and then held on for a 5-4 win Saturday at Captains Park. The victory, combined with Methodist's win over Ferrum put the Captains in first place in the USA South.

CNU grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Parker Neal singled home Shannon Mark and then eventually scored on a Cougar error.

Connor Madden made it 3-0 in the fourth with his fifth home run of the year.

Averett bounced back to tie the score in the sixth with the help of two unearned runs.

In the eighth, with one out, Shayne Kersey walked and moved to third when Madden reached on an error. After a walk to Mark to load the bases, Drue Vernon singled to drive in Kersey with Madden scoring on an outfield error.

Chris Malvagna nailed down his fourth save despite allowing his first run since the beginning of the season. James Carter led off with a double and scored on Jimbo Newcombe's base hit. But Malvagna retired the next three hitters to finish the game.

Neal finished with two hits and an RBI, while Kersey had two hits as well.

The Captains are now 13-5 and 5-2 in the USA South. Averett is 16-10 and 4-3.  The two teams play again Sunday at Captains Park at 1 p.m.

The box score