WILSON, N.C. -- The top-seeded and eighth-ranked Christopher Newport Captains (28-11-1) were denied a third straight conference championship today, when North Carolina Wesleyan College (21-22) eliminated CNU in the consolation bracket, 4-1. Junior Bryan Bierlein slipped to 7-3 with the loss, giving up three earned runs over five innings of work. 

CNU took an early lead in the game, scoring in the bottom of the first. After Travis Younger reached on an infield single, he was moved up on a sacrifice fly from Kyle Corwin and on to third by a groundout to the right side. Another N.C. Wesleyan miscue sent him home on a groundball to the second baseman, giving the Captains a 1-0 lead.

That would be all the offense the Captains could muster, though, as three times in the game a potential rally was erased by an inning-ending double play. N.C. Wesleyan starter Ciro Norzagaray was strong in his first collegiate start, improving to 4-0 on the season. He struck out four and scattered six hits in 6.1 innings of work.  

Bierlein was held to his shortest outing of the season Friday evening, as he walked a pair and gave up seven hits. He stranded three base runners through the first four innings, but the Bishops would capitalize in the top of the fifth. 

Hayden Williams led things off with a one-out infield single. Then, after a strikeout by Bierlein made it two outs in the inning, NC Wesleyan came through with three clutch at-bats. Leadoff hitter Justin DiSanto walked to put two runners on for Norzagaray. The rookie helped himself out in a big way with a double to the gap, scoring both runners. He would then come around to score on a single by Jake Alexander and the Bishops had a 3-0 lead. 

NC Wesleyan would tack on an insurance run in the eighth against CNU's senior closer Ryan Fleischmann. Fleischmann struck out five in three innings of relief, giving up just two hits. 

The Captains put seven hits on the board, including multi-hit efforts from Justin Weaver, Preston Grissom and Andy Viands. Billy Steel rounded out the hitting with a triple, going 1-for-4. 

Dillon Moore pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the save for the Bishops, his fourth of the year.

Christopher Newport will finish out the regular season with two games following this weekend's tournament appearance. On Wednesday, April 17 the Captains will travel to face Randolph-Macon College at 3:30 pm, followed by a trip to Hampton, Va. to take on the Newport News Apprentice School on Thursday, April 18 at 4:00 pm.