DEMOREST, Ga. -- Christopher Newport opened a 4-1 lead against the No. 7 Birmingham-Southern Panthers (2-1), but the nationally-ranked Captains' opponent staged a late inning comeback and held off CNU in the top of the ninth inning for a 6-5 win. The Captains had the game-tying run on third base with just one out when B-SC whirled a game-ending double play with a play at the plate to end it. 

Playing on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Loudermilk Field on the campus of Piedmont University, the two teams were locked in a low-scoring pitchers duel for most of the game. Christopher Newport junior starter Dylan Weber spun four excellent innings on the bump for the Captains, allowing just one run on three hits with six strikeouts in the first four frames. He ran into some trouble in the fifth when a runner reached on an error and came around to score on an RBI single.

After another error, Weber struck out a batter for the first out before giving way to Daniel Elliott out of the pen. Elliott closed down the threat with the bases loaded by inducing an infield pop-up and a three-pitch strikeout to hold the Panthers to just one run. 

Meanwhile, the Captains' offense had staked their lefty to a four-run lead through the first five innings. CNU manufactured one run in the fourth after Scott Crosson was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a wild pitch three batters later. In the fifth, the Captains scored three runs on three hits, including the first career knock by rookie second baseman Justin Liakos. Liakos smashed a 2-2 pitch into left field that one-hopped the wall and saw the rookie trot into second base for a lead-off double. 

Jay Cassady walked to bring up Kyle Schofield, who delivered a hard-hit single up the middle to plate Liakos. Then, it was Crosson again with an RBI double into the gap to chase home Cassady. Drew Caroline then added a productive out by driving in Schofield with an RBI groundout. 

The Captains led, 4-1, after 4.5 innings and still led 4-2 after five, but B-SC knotted the game up at 4 runs apiece in the bottom of the sixth. Facing reliever David Gingras (0-1) in the bottom of the eighth, the nationally-ranked Panthers snuck ahead o the Captains with two runs on three hits and an error, taking a 6-4 advantage with just one turn at bat left for CNU. 

Christopher Newport did as much with that at-bat as they could, starting with a single through the left side by Caroline. After a strikeout, Jonathan Fisher stepped in and reached by HBP, putting the tying run on base. Looking to keep the lineup moving, Conner Clark smoked a groundball off the first baseman and forced an errant throw that would plate Caroline and move Fisher up to third. That would bring up Liakos with Cassady, the Captains' hottest bat having gone 3-for-3 with a pair of free passes, on deck. Liakos lifted a fly ball into left and with a chance at tying the game on a sacrifice fly, Fisher tested Will Lantis' arm in left field as he raced home. The throw was a little high and wide, but the Panthers catcher made a sweeping tag and Fisher was called out on the bang-bang game-ending double play. 

CNU ripped nine hits in the game including a triple by Cassady to lead the way with a 3-for-3 performance while reaching base in all five plate appearances. Schofield was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored while Crosson, Justin Bowers, Caroline, and Liakos each picked up one hit apiece. 

Weber finished his day with seven strikeouts over 4.1 innings pitched, allowing four hits and two runs, one earned. Elliott struck out four in 2.2 innings of relief and Gingras whiffed one while allowing two runs on three hits in his one inning of work. 

Christopher Newport will look to shake off the opening weekend as they return to Newport News for the home-opening weekend starting on Friday, February 18 against Susquehanna. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm against the River Hawks.