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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Trailing by three runs headed into the ninth inning, the Christopher Newport baseball team fought back to tie Methodist University (3-1) at six, but the Monarchs would walk-off in the bottom half of the ninth for a 7-6 win. The Captains fall to 1-3 this season, dropping the game to their former conference rivals in the Methodist Diamond Invitational. 

The late rally was triggered by a lead-off single from junior Preston Grissom; then, after a strikeout, the Captains hit four straight singles to tie things up. Tommy Vitaletti and Travis Younger loaded the bases for senior Billy Steel, who cracked his third hit of the day to plate Grissom for the first run of the ninth. Then, with the bases still loaded, Justin Weaver hit a liner into left field to chase home Vitaletti and Younger for the game-tying run. 

The home team would answer in the bottom half of the last when Steven Kirby hit a walk-off RBI single with one out to win the game for the Monarchs. Catcher Chris Power trotted home from third base to secure the win for his battery mate, senior Josh Ayers, after the blown save. 

Earlier in the game, CNU took a 1-0 lead after the first inning. Vitaletti led the game off with a single to center field, and moved up to second on a groundout. Steel laced his first extra-base hit of the season into right center field, doubling in Vitaletti for the early lead. 

Methodist took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs on a pair of hits. Power scored on a sacrifice fly and sophomore Stephen Nalls added an RBI single. The Captains got back even at two in the top of the sixth when Austin Kilbourne plated Weaver on a sacrifice fly. The Monarchs would take the lead in the bottom half, though, and added two more in the eighth for the 6-3 lead. 

Offensively, CNU outhit the Monarchs, 12-11, led by three-hit days from Vitaletti and Steel. Steel also drove in three and had the only extra-base hit of the game for the Captains. Vitaletti and Younger each scored twice, while Weaver drove in a pair in a 1-for-4 performance. Matt Jack was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored for Methodist, while six different players drove in a run for the home team. Rookie Tyler Hardee had two RBI after checking in late in the game. 

On the hill, Ayers picked up the win despite allowing three earned in two innings of work. Starter Josh Howard struck out four in seven innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits. CNU starter Nick Santalucia tossed the first 2.1 innings before giving way to Jacob Vaughan. Both seniors gave up two earned runs and struck out one. Junior Brett Mays threw a clean seventh inning before giving way to Kilbourne, who picked up the loss after 1.1 innings of relief. 

The Captains are back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 18  at 2:00 pm as they entertain Randolph-Macon College at 2:00 pm. Live stats will be available at CNUsports.com.