BURLINGTON, N.C. – Leading 9-1, the CNU baseball team had to withstand a furious Ferrum rally to take a 10-8 victory over the Panthers in the first game of the USA South Tournament Thursday.

  With No. 1 starter Josh Brinkman cruising through the first seven innings, allowing just one run, Ferrum finally reached him in the seventh for six runs, including a two-run double by Charles Beacom.

  The Captains added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning when Shannon Mark doubled home Shayne Kersey, but the Panthers answered with a run in the top of the ninth, and had the tying run at the plate with one out against closer Chris Malvagna. He then struck out Beacom and got D.J. Phillips on a line drive to right field to end the game.

  Connor Madden had two hits for CNU, including a three-run homer in the sixth.  Steven Lindemuth also had two hits and three RBIs and Drue Vernon contributed two hits.

  Brinkman picked up the win to improve to 6-3 on the year while Malvagna got his fifth save.

  CNU, now 19-12 will play Friday at 1:30 against N.C. Wesleyan.

The box score