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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- A pair of senior pitchers combined to hold Montclair State (0-2) to just six hits, all singles, as the Christopher Newport Captains (5-5) held on for a 3-1 victory. Starter Nick Santalucia (2-0) pitched into the sixth inning, and Bryan Bierlein picked up his first career save by finishing out the win with 3.1 innings of solid relief. 

Making just his fourth career relief appearance the Captains right-hander was sensational in relief of his classmate. Bierlein came in to face Ryan Long with two strikes and two outs, and needed just one pitch to get out of the sixth. Then, in the final three innings, he faced just one batter more than the minimum, giving up a single and a walk, before closing out with a game-ending double play in the ninth. 

The double-play was the fourth of the game for the Captains' infield, including three up the middle, as the CNU defense was strong in defense of the senior arms. Three of the four plays ended innings and potential threats by the Red Hawks. 

Montclair State pitching was also strong, holding CNU to just eight hits, but three runs in the middle innings would prove to be enough for the Captains. After the Red Hawks struck first in the fourth inning, with an RBI single by catcher Jayson Stolz, it was a quick response by CNU in the bottom of the fifth and sixth. 

Sophomore Jacob Houston got things started with a one-out single into right center. Then, with two outs, junior Tommy Vitaletti pounded a line drive to the center field wall, scoring Houston and stretching his base hit into a triple. Vitaletti would score on an errant throw that ended up out of play, giving the Captains a 2-1 lead. 

Then, in the bottom of the sixth, Justin Weaver would score on a single by Kyle Corwin. Weaver had singled earlier in the inning and moved up to third after a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base. 

Vitaletti was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI to lead the Captains offense. Weaver, Corwin, Houston and Travis Younger each added hits in the contest. 

Jonathan Torregroza (0-1) suffered the loss for Montclair State, after pitching 5.0 innings and striking out five. He allowed two runs on four hits. Anthony Altieri gave up one run in two innings of work, and Taylor Parsons allowed just one hit in the final inning pitched for Montclair State. 

Christopher Newport will be back in action on Sunday, March 2, as they host 10th-ranked SUNY Cortland (4-1) at 12:00 pm.