NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport rookie Jacob Koenig hammered a 3-1 pitch into the netting over the left field wall to give the Captains a four-run lead in the bottom of the sixth and the Captains would go on to win, 6-3, in game two of a doubleheader against Piedmont University (12-7) on Friday afternoon. Koenig's first career blast was the difference in the second game after CNU suffered a 5-3 loss in game one to split the twin bill on a chilly day at Captains Park against the Lions. 

Christopher Newport is now 12-6 on the season after the split and will finish out a three-game series with Piedmont on Sunday afternoon. 

In the game two win, senior Jack Braley (2-0) picked up the win while combining with three relievers to limit Piedmont to just three runs, one earned, on seven hits. Christian Williams, Danny Checkosky, and Kyle Lewis came out of the pen and combined to close out the win with 2.2 innings of one-hit, shutout relief. 

Braley was efficient and effective against Piedmont, rolling through the first four innings with little issue. In the top of the fifth, the senior right-hander surrendered a pair of unearned runs courtesy of two CNU errors, but the veteran rallied to cruise through the sixth unscathed. Back on the mound in the top of the seventh, Braley gave up a pair of weak singles and a walk before the call to the bullpen. Williams came on with one out and limited the bases-loaded jam to just one run when the inning ended on a highlight-reel double play on a fly ball to left field. With a runner on third, Williams got a fly ball to left and Ayden Stuffel pulled it in. Testing the sophomore outfielder, Piedmont sent the runner and Stuffel unleashed a pinpoint laser to the plate where Lincoln Lubsen caught it in time to make the tag and end the threat. 

Braley finished the outing with 6.1 innings pitched, scattering six hits with six strikeouts. 

On the other side, the Captains scored  two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, and the game-winning three in the sixth. Lubsen got things started with a single in the bottom of the fourth and Doc Daniels added a rip into left field a batter later. After Jake Benedict reached on a sacrifice bunt, the Lions threw the ball away and allowed CNU's first run to score. Stuffel then stepped up and delivered an RBI single, plating Daniels as the Captains took a 2-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Josh Reinhold singled through the left side for his second hit of the game. The sophomore shortstop reached in both games on Friday, extending his career-opening on-base streak to 60 consecutive games. He moved up two spots on the all-time list and is now tied for the seventh longest run in Division III history with Salve Regina's Damian Costantino (April 1, 2001-March 10, 2003). He would then come around to score when Zach Dzarnowski ripped a single off the pitcher and Lubsen hammered a double into the corner. 

In the sixth, ahead of Koenig's big swing, the Captains got two on when Benedict walked and Eric Wilson singled through the left side. The first career home run for Koenig came in just this third game played. 

With a three-run lead, Checkosky tossed a perfect eighth and Lewis locked down his third save of the season with one strikeout and one hit surrendered in a clean ninth inning. 

The win came after a tough-luck loss for Brandon Cassedy (4-1) in game one after the sophomore star continued his outstanding season with 10 strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched. He faced just two batters over the minimum through the first four innings including 1-2-3 frames in the second and third innings. Piedmont got on the board with three runs on three hits in the fifth after the first two batters reached on a walk and HBP. The Lions moved up on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly. 

In the bottom of the sixth, the Captains trimmed the lead to one with two runs on three hits. Scott Crosson kicked off the inning with a flare into right field down the line. Reinhold reached on a hit-by-pitch to put two on and then Dzarnowski singled through the left side to load the bases. The first run would come in on a double play and then Daniels singled into center to drive in the second run. 

Piedmont answered back with two runs, one unearned, in the top of the seventh. Cassedy picked up his 10th K of the day to start the inning, moving into the Division III lead for strikeouts this season with 59. 

A late rally for the Captains fell short of the comeback as Christopher Newport started the ninth with a single by Benedict into center field. Pinch hitter Aaron Maxie then reached on an error and Benedict moved up to third on the mis-play. Two batters later, Wilson singled into right center to get CNU within two, 5-3, but the late inning magic would end there as Piedmont's closer, the national leader in saves, closed out the game with a pop-up and strikeout. 

The three hitters at the top of the lineup each finished the day with three hits for the Captains as Scott Crosson was a combined 3-for-9, Josh Reinhold was 3-for-8, and Zach Dzarnowski was 3-for-6. 

Christopher Newport and Piedmont will close out the three-game set on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com.