BURLINGTON, N.C. -- After back-to-back shutouts and dominant pitching performances in the first two games of the 2011 USA South Baseball Championship Tournament, Christopher Newport University leaned on the offense against the nation's top-ranked team, #1/1 Shenandoah University. CNU (34-4) dropped the Hornets (30-3) for the second time this season, winning 10-4 behind a 6-run ninth inning.

CNU, ranked #4 in the country in both national baseball polls, earned a big win in their run to a potential USA South title, moving on to the championship game on Sunday with the victory. The first of a possible two games on championship Sunday is tentatively scheduled for Noon. 

The Captains never trailed in the semifinal game, getting rookie Bryan Bierlein his first career tournament victory. The freshman held one of the nation's top offenses in check, allowing just two hits in six innings of work. He allowed two earned and struck out three as he improved to 5-0.

CNU took a 4-0 lead after three and a half, highlighted by a solo jack from Luke Saunders in the third inning and a pair of RBI doubles from  Connor Madden. The three RBI were the first of the weekend for Madden, coming into the tournament ranked third in the country in that category.

Shenandoah cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the inning, though, as Bierlein was burned by a couple of walks when Mike Smith tripled to deep center field and scored both Greg Van Sickler and Nick Beall. In the bottom of the fifth, the Hornets cut the lead to 4-3 when Van Sickler drove in Kevin Brashears with a single.

Hornets reliever Bryce Sears came in and stopped the bleeding for Shenandoah, and pitched very well in five innings of relief. He was still pitching in the ninth, though, when the Captains offense took over. Madden reached with a one-out base-hit bunt to start the run, followed by a single from Drue Vernon and a walk by Shannon Mark. Shenandoah head coach Kevin Anderson called on Bobby Stefanowicz in the one-out, bases loaded situation, setting up the biggest play of the game.

Madden broke for home on the pitch and CNU third baseman, Luke Saunders, who had already come up big with a solo homer earlier in the game, got the bunt down to convert the suicide squeeze and give CNU a two-run lead, 5-3. Saunders reached on the play and the bases remained loaded. After a foulout to the first baseman, the Captains would pour it on, scoring five more runs with two outs.

Steven Lindemuth singled through the left side to score a pair and second baseman Matt Shoemaker tripled to right center to bring around two more. Finally, Billy Steel scored Shoemaker with a single to right field to round out the scoring in a six-run ninth inning. Eleven batters came to the plate, facing three different pitchers in the inning.

CNU called on closer Ryan Fleischmann for the ninth and he shut the door striking out three to end the game. Shenandoah did add a two-out run in the bottom of the ninth, but Fleischmann struck out Keaton Neeb to end the comeback attempt.

The Captains outhit the Hornets 14-4 in the game and became just the third team to score double-digits on the Shenandoah pitching staff. The 14 hits allowed was the fourth most this season against the top-ranked Hornets.

Five different Captains had multi-hit games, led by Madden's 3-for-5 performance with a pair of doubles and the bunt single that triggered the ninth-inning run. He was also the baserunner in the suicide squeeze, swinging momentum back to CNU. Saunders was 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and runs scored, while Shoemaker and Lindemuth each finished 2-for-4.

Bierlein earned the win and Fleischmann capped the game in the ninth, but sophomore Matt Verdillo also threw two scoreless innings in the game in support of the Captains starter, as CNU clinged to a one-run lead. Verdillo allowed just one hit in two innings, striking out three.

Shenandoah got a pair of hits in five at-bats from USA South Player of the Year Van Sickler, scoring once and driving in one. Smith was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. Vince Claudio suffered the loss, dropping to 2-1 this season after giving up four earned in 3.2 innings of work, striking out five.

The USA South Tournament continues on Saturday with the consolation bracket games to determine who CNU will play on Sunday, at Noon. Shenandoah will face the winner of the Averett/Methodist contest scheduled for 3:30