VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The fifth-ranked Christopher Newport Captains improved to 15-2-1 today, holding off a late rally by Virginia Wesleyan to win, 4-3, in 10 innings. Senior Ryan Fleischmann picked up save number six of the season, with a perfect tenth after junior Billy Steel drove in the game-winning run in the top half. 

CNU picked up its seventh straight win while the Marlins fell to 3-10 overall this season, despite a strong pitching performance from starter Reid Hoffler. The junior right-hander tossed nine innings, allowing three unearned runs and picked up a no decision. 

For the Captains, junior Nick Santalucia came away with his best start of the season. The lefty went five innings and left the game with the lead. He allowed just one earned run on six hits.

The CNU offense put two runs on the board in the second inning, when rookie Kyle Corwin singled home a pair of runs. Senior Christopher McDougal and Justin Weaver both scored on the shot up the middle, giving the Captains an early lead. 

That lead was cut in half in the fifth when senior Kenneth Belgrave plated a run with an RBI groundout. Then, in the seventh, CNU took advantage of a pair of Marlins miscues, scoring a run on a Tommy Kane single. Scott Halsey came around to score for a 3-1 advantage with just three innings remaining. 

The home team would knot things up, however, with a run in both the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings. With two outs in the eighth inning, Brett Sutryk reached on an infield single, scoring a runner from third base to tie the game. In the ninth, CNU got a runner in scoring position with one out, but couldn't bring him around to score. Matt Verdillo retired the side in order in the ninth to force extra innings. 

Extra inning, rather, as CNU quickly re-took the lead in the top of the tenth. Travis Younger, minted the USA South Player & Rookie of the Week earlier in the day, walked to lead off the inning. He moved up on a sacrifice bunt and reached third after a wild pitch. Billy Steel stepped in and smacked a double to left center field to plate the go-ahead run, 4-3, setting up the save chance for Fleischmann. After a pop-out to second, the senior right-hander got a strikeout and unassisted groundout to end the inning for a 1-2-3 save. 

CNU pitching finished with 10 strikeouts in the game, led by four in two innings by sophomore Adam Emerson. Verdillo (1-1) picked up the win, adding three K's in the eighth and ninth innings, allowing just one earned run.

The Captains scheduled game on Wednesday against nationally-ranked Salisbury has been postponed due to the threat of inclement weather. CNU is back in action this weekend, as they travel to Georgia to play LaGrange for a three-game set starting Friday at 2:00 pm.