NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Jonathan Fisher came through with a clutch two-run single during a momentum-turning eighth-inning rally before making a game-saving play at shortstop in the ninth to help close out a wild 8-7 victory on Friday as the Christopher Newport baseball team swept a brief two-game series against No. 7 N.C. Wesleyan at Captains Park.
 
Coming through when it mattered most, Fisher punched a hit through the left side of the infield to cap off a three-run surge in the eighth, which gave the Captains their first lead of the game. Then, the sophomore made a diving play in the hole during a bases-loaded jam in the ninth, which helped stunt N.C. Wesleyan's rally before Jack Rosenberg retired the game's final two batters to seal the victory.
 
Along with the late-game heroes, Jay Cassady launched a three-run blast in the fourth inning, which helped dig Christopher Newport out of an early four-run hole. Meanwhile, Conner Clark added three hits and a stolen base, while Eric O'Brien also chipped in with two hits and gunned down a pair of would-be base-stealers.
 
The victory marked Christopher Newport's third against a top-10 opponent in the past week. In addition to the squad's sweep against the Battling Bishops, the Captains also knocked off No. 3 Salisbury last Friday in Maryland.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport now stands at 12-7 on the season. The loss drops N.C. Wesleyan to 23-5.
 
Although the Battling Bishops hung four runs on the Captains during a lengthy rally in the third, Christopher Newport stepped up on the defensive side to keep a manageable deficit. First, during N.C. Wesleyan's four-run rally, O'Brien hosed a base-runner with a laser to second before Gray Goodrich came in and picked off another Bishop to end the threat.
 
One inning later, with N.C. Wesleyan threatening again, Alec Reilly cut down a runner at the plate with an absolute rope to the dish, which punctuated a scoreless frame.
 
Following the defensive highlights, the Captains came through at the plate. In the bottom of the fourth, O'Brien lined a single to left before Reilly worked a walk. Driving in the first run, Scott Crosson cracked an RBI single to left. With two runners still on base, Cassady brought everyone home as the first-year star blasted a three-run bomb to dead centerfield, which cleared the batter's eye and knotted the score at four.
 
Although the visitors were able to scratch out a run in the fifth despite a tremendous diving catch by Clark in center, Christopher Newport retaliated. In the bottom of the inning, Clark led off with a single before Fisher moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Punctuating the rally, O'Brien dotted the leftfield line with a well-placed double, which chased in Clark and tied the game at five.
 
After the back-and-forth battle, Nathan Clements came out of the pen and helped put a lid on the high-powered N.C. Wesleyan offense. The junior struck out three during 2.2 innings of scoreless relief before Colby Shriner worked a perfect eighth to keep the game deadlocked at five.
 
Looking to break through, Christopher Newport's lineup came to life in the bottom of the eighth. Daniel Elliott kicked things off by beating out an infield single. Continuing to show off his wheels, the freshman moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before sprinting to third on a fly ball to right. Two batters later, he came barreling home with the go-ahead run after a pitch skipped away from the catcher.
 
Looking for more insurance, Brayden Hodges drew a walk before Clark legged out a single, which loaded the bases with two outs. Coming through in the clutch, Fisher drove a 2-2 offering into left that brought in a pair and gave the hosts an 8-5 advantage.
 
In the top of the ninth, N.C. Wesleyan responded. Never backing down, the visitors loaded the bases with no outs. After a walk forced in a run, Rosenberg was summoned from the bullpen to put out the fire. In a tough spot, the freshman pitched well beyond his years.
 
Although he fell behind to the first batter, the lefty battled back and blew away the Bishop with three straight strikes for the first out. Then, Fisher came through with the defensive play of the game. With the bases still juiced, the next hitter slammed a shot that looked destined to leak into leftfield. Bolting over, the shortstop made a diving, out-stretched snag on a tough hop to keep the ball on the dirt and limit the batter to an infield single.
 
Back within one at 8-7, N.C. Wesleyan still had three runners on base with only one out. With work left to do, Rosenberg dug in again. The southpaw sent the next batter down swinging before inducing a game-ending fly to center, which iced the one-run victory.
 
For his efforts, Rosenberg picked up his first collegiate save, while Shriner earned the win and improved to 1-1 on the season.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday when the squad hosts a doubleheader against Mary Washington beginning at noon.
 
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