NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The fifth-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team converted its third weekend sweep in four tries against league opponents this year, improving to 11-1 against the USA South and 14-2-1 overall this year. CNU dropped Methodist, 10-2, in the third game of the series, behind another solid pitching performance from Bryan Bierlein. 

Bierlein has won all four of his outings this season, and converted the Captains' 10th straight quality start against conference foes. Against the Monarchs, the junior struck out eight in eight innings of work, giving up just two runs on five hits. From the first pitch, he had the Methodist batters off balance, getting nine groundouts in the game and facing the minimum through the first three innings. 

Meanwhile, the CNU offense got their ace a big lead early. After a two-run second inning, the Captains put up a big number in the third, scoring seven runs. Senior Christopher McDougal led off with a single to right, followed by a walk and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases with nobody out.  Rookie Travis Younger singled to left for his second RBI of the day, after a sacrifice fly in the second inning. Freshman Kyle Corwin picked up an RBI on a hit-by-pitch and sophomore catcher Tommy Kane drove in a pair with a flare to right. The runs kept coming as Billy Steel picked up an RBI groundout and McDougal added an RBI double for his second hit of the inning. 

Methodist scored their only two runs of the game in the top of the sixth inning, with two outs. Cody Molosky singled and stole second, coming around to score on a Travis Johnson double. Johnson would then score on a single to center by Brandon Thigpen, but Bierlein ended the inning with a groundout to hold Methodist to just two runs. 

McDougal led the way for the CNU offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Younger capped a stellar weekend for the freshman second baseman with a 2-for-2 performance, and two runs driven in. Younger finished the series against Methodist 4-for-9 with seven RBI. 

Christopher Newport is back in action on Monday, traveling to Virginia Wesleyan for a 2:00 pm non-conference matchup. The Captains will then return home to take on nationally-ranked Salisbury on Wednesday, March 6 at 2:00 pm.