Box Score NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - CNU found itself down 5-0 and 6-2 before rallying to within 6-5 against Averett Sunday, but ultimately dropped a 7-5 USA South decision to the Cougars at Captains Park.

Averett picked up its first two runs in the third inning without getting the ball out of the infield with the help of two bunt singles and a hit batter. The Cougars then tacked on three more runs, all unearned, in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.

CNU scored once each in the fourth, when Ben Lenda's double drove home Steven Lindemuth, and in the fifth when Lindemuth hit a sacrifice fly that plated Drue Vernon.

Averett added a run in the seventh to make it 6-2. CNU countered with two in the bottom of the seventh on RBI singles by Parker Neal and Lindemuth, but left the bases loaded with only one out without an additional run.

In the eighth, Neal drove in Shannon Mark and the Captains again had runners at second and third with only one out, but did not score.

The Cougars added an insurance run in the top of the ninth and the ended the game on a double play to earn the series split.

Vernon, Neal, Lindemuth and Lenda each had two hits for the Captains, who are now 13-6 and 5-3 in the USA South. Sean Chitsaz took the loss, falling to 3-2, despite giving up only three earned runs over seven innings. Averett is now 17-10 and 4-4 in the conference.

The Captains visit Hampden-Sydney Wednesday before traveling to Winchester for a Saturday-Sunday USA South series with Shenandoah.

The box score