SALISBURY, Md. -- In the first of two scheduled games against the nationally-ranked Salisbury University Sea Gulls, the fourth-ranked Captains (16-5-1) dropped a 5-1 decision. The regional rivalry went in favor of the home team on Wednesday, as No. 6 Salisbury improved their early season record to 9-2 overall. 

Salisbury got two runs in both the third and fourth innings, and tacked on an insurance tally in the sixth to take a 5-0 lead in the game. Dan Fein (3-0) picked up the win in his first start of the year, pitching five shutout innings. 

CNU sophomore Adam Emerson (1-1) also picked up his first start of the season in the game, pitching three innings for the Captains. Emerson allowed just one hit, but was plagued by four walks and one hit-by-pitch, allowing three runs to come around to score.

In the bottom of the third, Bill Root walked and promptly stole second. Then, after a Nick Gentry walk and Quinn Griffith sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch would score the first run of the game. An RBI groundout scored Gentry and Salisbury led 2-0. 

In the fourth, the Sea Gulls tacked on two more, both coming with two outs. Root singled through the left side with runners in scoring position, plating a pair of runs for a 4-0 lead. 

Against Fein, the Captains managed five hits through the first four innings, but stranded all five baserunners. The CNU offense finally got on the board in the eighth inning, scoring one run off reliever Danny Druzgala. Billy Steel singled down the left field line for his third hit of the game to start the rally. After a fielder's choice and a wild choice, senior Christopher McDougal was on second for CNU's leading run producer, Justin Weaver. The Captains junior transfer knocked in his 23rd run of the season when he singled up the middle to plate McDougal. 

That would be all the only run CNU could muster, though, despite outhitting Salisbury, 8-7. Steel finished 3-for-3 with a walk, reaching in all four plate appearances. Rookie Kyle Corwin was 2-for-4, while Weaver, Tommy Kane and Justin Garber all added one hit apiece. 

Root drove in three runs for Salisbury, going 1-for-4 in the game, while Griffith had a two-hit day. 

CNU returns to action this weekend, hosting Piedmont College in a three-game conference series with the first game set for Friday, March 15 at 2:00 pm.