NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Christopher Newport’s baseball team overcame three runs in the top of the ninth to defeat Greensboro, with three runs in the bottom of the ninth of its own, to take the USA South contest, 4-3, Saturday afternoon.
In a battle of USA South aces, Kenny Moreland (7-0) got the win. He tossed nine innings, struck out 9 and yielded 3 runs on 9 hits. Throwing for the Pride was senior left-hander Kit Mock 7-3). Mock made his 10th start on the season, and came into the contest with an ERA of 2.43. Mock would suffer a tough-luck loss as the Captains rallied back in the bottom of the 9th from a 3-1 deficit. Mock went 8+ innings, giving up 10 hits and striking out 3.
After two and a half quiet innings, the Captains finally got on the board in the bottom of the 3rd inning when Trae Bailey doubled off of the left field wall to knock in Mike Giarrizzi, giving CNU a 1-0 lead.
The score would stay at 1-0 as the Moreland-Mock pitchers duel continued through the final inning.
Heading into the 9th inning, CNU remained ahead 1-0, as Moreland came back out to try and finish the job. Moreland gave up a lead-off double followed by a bunt single, which set the Pride up with runners on first and third with no outs. Greensboro would bunt on a suicide squeeze play, where Moreland tried to throw the runner out at home, but to no avail. The Pride would tack on two more runs in the inning, as a single and another squeeze play would extend the Greensboro lead to 3-1.
In the bottom of the 9th inning, Shane Kersey led off with a single, Travis Medina walked, and Mike Giarrizzi would leg out an infield single to load the bases for Trae Bailey. Bailey would single to left, allowing Kersey and pinch-runner Jimmy Six to score. Then, Chris Despins came to the plate and lined a pitch into left center to complete the Captains’ walk-off, 4-3 win.
Greensboro’s record now falls to 20-11 overall, and 4-3 in the USA South. Meanwhile Christopher Newport improves to 19-5 and 6-1 in the conference.
Tyler O’Neill and Alex Guerra both collected 2 hits for The Pride.
The two teams will square off again tomorrow, with the first pitch set for 1:00pm.
Box: http://www.gborocollege.edu/athletics/sports/baseball/2008/cnub0329.htm
GC record 20-11, 4-3; Steak L1: Up next at CNU, 3/30, 1 p.m.