SALISBURY, Md. – Sophomore left-hander Dan Fein pitched five shutout innings in his first collegiate start and junior center fielder Bill Root went 1-for-4 with three RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base as the No. 6 Salisbury University baseball team knocked off fourth-ranked Christopher Newport University at the SU Baseball Field on Wednesday.
Fein (3-0) scattered five hits and two walks while striking out three to pace Salisbury (9-2) to its first win over Christopher Newport (16-5-1) since a 3-2 victory in Salisbury on April 22, 2011.
Fein, who has yet to allow a run in four games and 16 innings this season, worked into the sixth, before giving way to senior righties Danny Druzgala and Andrew Levy. Having not thrown since Feb. 24 against the State University of New York at Cortland, Druzgala tossed three innings, allowing three hits and one run, before Levy closed the door in the ninth, fanning two.
Junior first baseman Quinn Griffith was the only Sea Gull with a multiple-hit day, batting 2-for-3. Nick Gentry, Joey Jones and Austin Barefoot also scored runs for SU.
Salisbury opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, taking a 2-0 lead. With Evan Graci up and Gentry and Root on second and third, respectively, with one out, CNU starter Adam Emerson (1-1) uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Root to score. Graci then grounded out to second base to plate Gentry from third. Both Root and Gentry walked to start the inning and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Griffith.
The Sea Gulls added two more in the fourth. Emerson hit Jones, the leadoff batter, with a 3-2 pitch prior to being relived by Jordan Boze. After a strikeout, Jones stole second and moved to third on a groundout to shortstop. Bobby Sanzone singled and stole second, setting up a two-out, two-run single through the left side by Root for a 4-0 cushion.
SU got an insurance run in the sixth when Barefoot scored on a throwing error by CNU third baseman Kyle Corwin. Barefoot began the frame with a single through the left side, and with one out, moved to third on Sanzone's double to the gap in right-center field.
The Captains got on the scoreboard in the eighth with a Justin Weaver two-out base hit up the middle, but Levy pitched a perfect ninth to ensure the win.
CNU shortstop Billy Steel was 3-for-3 to lead the Captains. Emerson took the loss in three innings. He allowed one hit, four walks and three earned runs.
Salisbury hosts Albertus Magnus College on Friday at 2 p.m.