NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- CNU senior right-hander Ryan Fleischmann (Williamsburg, Va.) became the all-time leader in saves in USA South history on Saturday, as he saved both games of a conference doubleheader. He helped lead the fifth-ranked Captains of Christopher Newport (13-2-1, 10-1-0) to a doubleheader sweep over Methodist University on Saturday.

CNU got an emphatic finish in a game one win, taking a 4-2 victory over the Monarchs in part because of Ryan Fleischmann's fourth save of the year. The senior right-hander struck out the side in order in the ninth, notching his 22nd career save and tying the USA South Athletic Conference all-time record (Blake Maxwell-Methodist '05). 

The save chance was set up by another strong pitching performance from junior Austin Chrismon (3-1). Coming off a record-breaking 18-strikeout performance, Chrismon tossed seven innings and allowed just two runs with seven strikeouts. He scattered seven hits, all singles. 

A pair of freshmen led the way for the CNU offense, as rookies Travis Younger and Kyle Corwin each drove in a pair. In the second inning, Corwin singled home Jacob Houston to take a 1-0 lead. Then, in the next inning, Young smoked a double to right field, plating Christopher McDougal and Justin Weaver. Corwin added the insurance run on a single to left, again scoring Houston.

Fleischmann came in with the two-run lead, set to face the 9-1-2 spots in the order. He promptly struck out the pinch hitter, Brent Shelton and leadoff man Steven Kirby. That brought to the plate Travis Johnson, who was 4-for-4 in the game heading into the at-bat. After a pair of foul balls on outside pitches, Fleischmann dropped a breaking ball on the inside corner and caught the freshman swinging for the record-tying save.

In game two, rookie Brandon Taylor (3-0) gave the Captains their ninth consecutive quality start against USA South foes. He pitched seven strong innings, striking out seven and allowing two runs on five hits.

CNU took an early 1-0 lead after Billy Steel singled home Andy Viands in the first.  The Monarchs evened things up in the second, though, with an RBI single by Cody Molosky. A sacrifice fly in the fourth inning gave Methodist their lone lead of the day, going up 2-1. The Captains responded immediately, getting two runs in the bottom half. Younger drove in his third run of the day with a sacrifice fly and catcher Tommy Kane lined a single into left, scoring Jacob Houston. 

With the lead in hand, Taylor would retire nine straight batters to get through the seventh inning, setting up the bullpen for the final frames. The offense also put together a big inning, scoring four times in the bottom of the seventh to take a 7-2 lead. Younger added to his big day with two RBI and Justin Weaver added a two-out two-RBI single to left. 

It didn't look like Fleischmann would have a chance at the historical 23rd save, but Methodist added a pair of unearned runs in the eighth to cut the lead to three, 7-4. Steven Kirby reached on an error, followed by an RBI double by Travis Johnson. Johnson came around to score on a sacrifice fly later in the inning for the Monarchs.

With the lead just three, head coach John Harvell would call on his senior leader again. He picked up his fourth strikeout in four batters before getting out of the inning unscathed with a flyout and unassisted groundout.  

The record Fleischmann broke was held by current assistant coach Blake Maxwell, who is in his first year with the Monarchs, and was on hand to see his eight-year old career record broken.

The three-game conference set will wrap on Sunday, with the final game set for 1:00 pm.