ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- Led by a solid pitching performance from junior Bryan Bierlein (7-2), the eighth-ranked Christopher Newport Captains (27-9-1, 18-6) shut out the N.C. Wesleyan Bishops on Sunday, 9-0. Bierlein tossed the team's 22nd consecutive quality start against league opponents for CNU, as the weekend rotation rounds out the year with 23 quality starts in 24 conference games. 

The Bishops fell to 19-21 overall, 15-9 in league play, and will be the number two seed in next week's USA South Tournament. The Captains, who locked up the top seed on Saturday, will open the conference tournament on Thursday, April 11 at 9:30 am against eighth-seeded Greensboro College (15-22, 8-16). The opening round games will be played at Fleming Stadium in Wilson, N.C.

On Sunday, Bierlein combined with two relievers for the Captains' fourth shutout of the season. He tossed seven strong innings, striking out seven and scattering five hits with a walk. He picked up his team-leading seventh win, paired with just two losses. 

CNU backed up their starting pitcher with two runs in the third inning, one in the fifth, and six more in the final three innings. In the third, it was junior leader Billy Steel who came up with the big hit. After Preston Grissom singled with one out, Steel homered to left field to give the Captains an early 2-0 lead. It was his third home run of the year, the most on the team. Grissom led off the fifth inning with a solo homer of his own, the first knock of his career.

CNU continued to add to the lead with a big seventh inning, scoring four runs in the frame. With two outs and a runner on second, the Bishops elected to intentionally walk Steel, who was 2-for-3 already in the game. Senior Christopher McDougal came through with an RBI single, followed by a pair of RBI doubles from Justin Weaver and Jacob Houston. Weaver drove in a pair and Houston tacked on one RBI. 

Steel wrapped up a stellar day with another RBI knock in the eighth, and Weaver added an RBI walk with two outs for the final score, 9-0. The Captains' shortstop finished the day 3-for-4 with a walk, three RBI and two runs scored. Grissom also had a three-hit day, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, while McDougal finished 2-for-4. Weaver's three RBI tied Steel for a game-high, as he reached base three times. 

In relief, senior Richard Lindsay struck out a pair in the eighth and sophomore Adam Emerson closed out the game with a shutout ninth, striking out one. 

Hatteras Brooks (4-3) suffered the loss for the Bishops, tossing 6.2 innings with six earned runs allowed. Jake Alexander led the offense with two hits in four at-bats. 

The Captains will now look ahead to the USA South Conference Tournament, a double-elimination format beginning April 11. The tournament will be played at Fleming Stadium in Wilson, N.C. and Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C.