NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Behind a 15th consecutive quality start in USA South play, the Christopher Newport baseball team picked up its fifth conference series win on Saturday, with a 7-1 win over Piedmont College (11-11, 8-6). The Captains improved to 18-5-1 overall with a 14-3 mark against league opponents, powered to victory by an impressive pitching performance, allowing just three hits to the Lions.

Rookie Brandon Taylor (5-0) was behind the bulk of the stellar pitching effort, allowing just three singles in seven innings of work. The freshman was in a rhythm from the outset, retiring the side in order five out of the first six innings. The only blemish was a second-inning single through the left side by Kevin D'Antignac, as Taylor faced just one batter more than the minimum through the first 18 outs. 

In the seventh, Taylor ran into a little trouble, giving up a lead-off single to Tate Koons, who advanced on a wild pitch. The CNU freshman limited the damage, however, by getting back-to-back groundouts and a flyout, allowing just one run. 

Taylor finished the game with 7.0 innings pitched, five strikeouts and three hits, without allowing a free pass. It was his fifth straight quality start, helping CNU post their 15th straight as a team against conference foes. 

The offense provided plenty of support for Taylor and for the second straight day, had a big opening inning. After Preston Grissom reached on an error by the third baseman and Billy Steel was hit by a pitch, Justin Weaver smoked a two-out, two-run double to center field. He would then come around to score on a Jacob Houston single to center, giving the Captains a 3-0 lead after one. 

Though that would be plenty for Taylor, CNU tacked on two more runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and one more in the eighth inning. Houston added to his strong performance with a two-out, two-run triple in the fifth, plating Christopher McDougal and Weaver. Grissom lifted a single to left center for an RBI in the sixth and then added a sacrifice fly in the eighth for the final tally of seven runs.

In relief, CNU senior Richard Lindsay had a solid performance, tossing two shutout innings to close out the game. After hitting the first batter he faced, Lindsay struck out the side in the eighth. Then, in the ninth, the senior right-hander finished out the game with a perfect 1-2-3 inning, striking out a fourth in just two innings of work. 

Houston's three-RBI day led the way for CNU, after going 2-for-4 at the dish. Grissom (2-for-4), Kyle Corwin (2-for-4) and Weaver (2-for-3) added multi-hit performances as the Captains outhit the Lions, 11-3. Grissom and Weaver each had two RBI in the game. Six of the seven CNU runs batted in came with two outs. 

Piedmont got one hit each from Koons, Michael Barnes and D'Antignac, but were held off balance for most of the day. Taylor and Lindsay combined for seven ground ball and 11 fly ball outs. 

CNU will close out the series with Piedmont on Sunday, March 17 at 1:00 pm. CNU will look for its fourth conference sweep of the year.