Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Game 1:  Box Score in HTML Format  |  Box Score in PDF Format
Game 2:  Box Score in HTML Format  |  Box Score in PDF Format

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The eighth-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team got a pair of strong pitching performances on Sunday to earn a three-game sweep over Maryville College, winning 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader and 11-1 in the second. Rookie Brandon Taylor (1-0) picked up his first collegiate win after seven innings of shutout ball and junior Bryan Bierlein (2-0) struck out a career-high 11 in eight innings of work.

The Captains improved to 8-1 overall with a perfect 6-0 mark in league play while Maryville slips to 4-4 overall, 2-4 in the USA South. 

In the first game, CNU rode the left arm of rookie pitcher Brandon Taylor. The freshman settled in nicely, allowing just four hits in seven innings of work while striking out six. 

Trevor Brackett finished with a strong line after six innings, but could not overcome a four-run second inning by the Captains. Senior Christopher McDougal reached on an error followed by a walk from Bryant Lowry. Both would score after a sacrifice bunt, sacrifice fly and single to right center. Then, rookie Kyle Corwin would double to right field, plating two more runs for the 4-0 lead. 

Despite a pair of runs coming in to score in the top of the eighth, the CNU bullpen would hold on behind seniors Richard Lindsay and Ryan Fleischmann. Lindsay gave up just one hit in five batters faced in the eighth, setting up a save situation in the ninth. Fleischmann, the Captains all-time leader in saves, picked up his third of the season with two strikeouts. He is now just one shy of the USA South Conference record of 22 career saves. 

In the second game, the offense exploded for 11 runs on 15 hits, including a 2-run home run by Billy Steel, but it was again the arm of Bryan Bierlein that led the way.  Bierlein followed up his career-best performance against Ferrum last week with an even better performance against Maryville on Sunday. The junior right-hander went eight strong innings, allowing just four singles and striking out a career-high 11. 

With Bierlein in the drivers seat, the offense got started early with six runs in the first two innings. With two outs in the second, Thomas Rea beat out an infield single, followed by an Andy Viands single to left. An error by the left fielder extended the inning, scoring both runners and putting Jacob Houston on second base with Steel at the plate. The junior shortstop stepped up and blasted the first pitch he saw to deep left center field for a two-run homer. 

The runs would keep coming, with three in the fourth and two in the sixth as Bierlein continued to mow down Maryville hitters. The Scots would pick up just one unearned run in the fifth after a three-error inning by the Captains. 

After eight innings of work, Bierlein would give way to Adam Emerson, who pitched a perfect ninth inning, 1-2-3 to hold onto the win. 

Steel and McDougal were stellar in game two, both going 4-for-5 to lead the offense. Steel had two RBI and three runs scored. Justin Weaver (2-4) and Andy Viands (2-4) also finished with multi-hit games.

CNU finished their nine-game homestand to start the season with an 8-1 record, and will now hit the road for five straight. The Captains will take on Hampden-Sydney College on Tuesday, Feb 19 at 3:00 pm