NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Christopher Newport University baseball team bounced back from a disappointing day one in the NCAA tournament for a 7-1 victory over fifth-seeded Lynchburg College.  The Captains got six strong innings out of starter Bryan Bierlein in earning the win in his first start since March 17.

CNU jumped out in the first inning scoring a run after centerfielder, Shannon Mark, started the game with a leadoff double and was singled home by third baseman, Luke Saunders.  Saunders finished 2-4 with an RBI and run scored and was one of four Captains that posted multiple hit games.

A day after dropping a 3-1 decision to sixth seed, Messiah College while only collecting three hits, the CNU bats woke up.  Shortstop Billy Steel finished 3-4 while scoring a pair of runs.

Mark would start the top of the third off reaching on an error by Hornet first baseman, Dustin Arrowood and scored the go-ahead run on a Connor Madden single to the right side.  CNU would not relinquish the lead as Bierlein took the mound with a 3-1 lead in the bottom of third and cruised through six full innings before handing the ball off to the bullpen.

In six innings of action, Bierlein allowed only one run on three hits with three strikeouts.  Bierlein made his first start in two months after rehabbing an arm ailment.

CNU improved to 31-8 on the season and advance to play Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in another elimination game. 

Lynchburg concludes their campaign with a 34-9 mark after winning the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.  The Hornets struggled to get the bats started in the Newport News Regional as they dropped a 7-2 decision to #2 seed, Salisbury on Thursday.