HAMPTON, Va. -- Sophomore designated hitter Andy Viands came through with a go-ahead two-run single in extra innings on Thursday, leading the 17th-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team to a 4-2 win over the Newport News Apprentice School (27-8). The Captains improved to 29-12-1 overall with a come-from-behind win in their regular season finale. 

Despite a strong start from junior Bryan Bierlein, the Captains found themselves in a 2-1 hole headed into the eighth inning. The Builders scored two runs, one earned, off Bierlein in 7.0 innings of work. Back-to-back doubles in the first inning plated the first run against Bierlein, as Devorn Lake picked up the RBI, and Apprentice took a 2-0 lead in the fifth when Jordan Cowles drove in Chris Scarola. 

Bierlein allowed just the two runs on 12 hits, wriggling out of several jams with seven strikeouts on the day. CNU avoided handing Bierlein the hard-luck loss, tying the game with one run in each the sixth and eighth innings. 

Junior Justin Weaver led off the sixth with a double, and moved up to third on a wild pitch. Senior Christopher McDougal would then step in and drive in the first CNU run of the game with a groundball to the shortstop. 

After Apprentice starter Ryland Edwards got two quick outs in the eighth, the Captains rallied for the game-tying run. Weaver walked and moved up to second on a single through the right side by McDougal. Rookie Jacob Houston stepped in and beat out an infield single, and then used his speed to force a miscue by the first baseman. The error allowed Weaver to come around and score, tying things up at two runs apiece. 

With Bierlein in line for a no decision, he gave way to senior reliever Ryan Fleischmann (1-0) in the bottom of the eighth. After a perfect inning, he came back in the bottom of the ninth, allowing a lead-off single to Chris Scarola. After a sacrifice bunt, Fleischmann intentionally walked Lake to set up a potential double play. With the game-winning run in scoring position, he locked in and got a deep foul out to right and then a groundball back to the pitcher to end the inning and force extras. 

CNU wasted no time in extra innings, taking the lead in the top of the 10th. Billy Steel reached base to lead off the inning with a hit-by-pitch; the junior leads the nation in bean balls this year with 16. Weaver added his third consecutive hit with a single to center field, followed by a flyout by McDougal. Another infield single by Houston loaded the bases, but reliever Sam Massie (4-2) got a key strikeout for the second out. With two outs, Viands would step in and drill the first pitch he saw up the middle to score a pair and give CNU their first lead of the game, 4-2. 

Fleischmann stayed in for the 10th and struck out three to lock up his first win of the season. He finished with three innings pitched, one hit and four strikeouts in the game. 

The Captains wrap up the regular season with a 29-12-1 overall record, and will now wait anxiously for the decision of the NCAA Tournament Selection Release on May 12 to see if CNU has done enough to earn an at-large berth.