FROSTBURG, Md. -- Wrapping up a difficult six-day stretch in which they played seven games, the Christopher Newport University baseball team staved off a doubleheader sweep with a ninth-inning rally in the second game of a Capital Athletic Conference twin bill on the road. The Captains (17-12, 9-4) dropped a tough 2-1 decision to Frostburg State (19-6, 9-4) in game one, but bounced back with a 9-5 win in game two, powered by a five-run ninth inning. 

Senior Bryan Bierlein (4-3) tossed his fourth complete game of the season, but was the hard-luck loser in game one. The Captains right-hander struck out a season-high ten batters and tossed all eight innings, allowing just one earned run and one walk. The CNU offense, though, was stymied by Frostburg starter Kenny Georgius (5-0), who also tossed a complete game, allowing just four hits. 

The pitching duel saw CNU strike first, scoring a first-inning run on an RBI groundout by senior shortstop Billy Steel. Tommy Vitaletti led off the game with a triple down the right field line, and the junior scampered home on a ground out to the right side of the infield. 

Bierlein allowed one hit in each of the first three innings, but would not give up a run until the bottom of the fourth. The equalizer came after a lead-off double by Kevin Kean, who came in to score on an infield single by senior Dylan Shupe. The Captains ace would retire ten of the next 11 batters, including seven strikeouts. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, though, an error extended the inning and Frostburg took advantage. Senior Brandon Remalia plated the eventual game-winning run with a single up the middle. Bierlein would close out the inning with a pick-off, and got through the eighth unscathed, but the CNU offense was unable to tie the game in the late innings. 

Bierlein lowered his season ERA to 1.19 with his career-high fourth career game. The Chesterfield, Va. native leads the team with 48 strikeouts in 60.2 innings pitched, with 11 appearances this season. 

In game two, the Frostburg offense got out to a 4-1 lead after the first three innings. The Bobcats scored twice on two hits in the second inning, and added two more in the third on two more hits. Kean and Shupe hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the third to get the home team out in front. 

In the top of the fourth, CNU got two back, cutting the lead down to one run at 4-3. Curtis Pittman and Tommy Kane led off the inning with back-to-back singles, followed by a walk from Vitaletti. Steel added an RBI groundout, and a second run would score on a throwing error by the shortstop. Frostburg answered with one run in the bottom of the fifth, increasing the lead to two, 5-3. 

With strong relief pitching, the score would remain 5-3 until the ninth inning. Rookie Michael Thomas and junior Kyle Goddard threw 3.2 scoreless innings of work for CNU. Headed into the top of the ninth inning, CNU was sending the top of the lineup to the plate. Vitaletti led things off with a double to right center field, and Steel followed with a single into left field. With the game-tying run on and nobody out, the Captains threat began to mount. Connor Henderson was called on to pinch hit, and delivered a shot into right field to score the first run. Then, Jacob Houston singled through the left side to plate Steel for the game-tying run. 

The inning would continue as rookie A.J. Nicely would deliver a two-run go-ahead double after a strikeout and intentional walk. Pittman would then step in and deliver an RBI single into left center field, capping a huge five-run ninth inning to give CNU the lead for good. Justin Garber would come in to pitch in the ninth in a non-save situation, striking out the side to close out the win. 

Pittman led the Captains with a 6-for-8 performance in the doubleheader, while Steel was 3-for-5 in the second game. Vitaletti had a pair of hits in the afternoon set, while also picking up a pair of walks. 

The CAC split sees the two teams remain deadlocked at second in the league standings with a 9-4 record. Both teams have three games left on the regular season league schedule, as CNU will take on St. Mary's College (Md.) for one, and travel to York College (Pa.) for a season-ending doubleheader next weekend.