NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - No. 2/2 Christopher Newport University prevented No. 1/1 Shenandoah from clinching its first-ever USA South Conference regular season baseball title with a 5-3 win Sunday afternoon.

Shenandoah (22-2, 9-1 USA South) had a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth, but saw the Captains (29-3, 10-2) rally with one run in the sixth, another in the seventh and three more in the eighth.

The loss means that SU must sweep Averett next weekend to win the regular season title. A split would make Shenandoah and CNU co-champions while Christopher Newport would take the title with a Cougars sweep.

SU hosts Averett next Saturday and Sunday in the final USA South Conference series of the regular season.

Regardless of next weekend's outcome, Shenandoah and CNU will be the top two seeds at the USA South Conference Tournament in Burlington, N.C. April 14 through 17.

Junior Cory Nelson gave the Hornets the early lead with a solo home run in the second before sophomore Keaton Neeb connected with a two-run blast in the fourth.

Unfortunately for the Hornets, this would be all of the offense they would muster against the Captains.

SU, which had 10 hits in the game, was held four singles in its final five at-bats.

Steven Lindemuth gave the hosts the lead for good with a two-run HR in the eighth off of senior All-America Greg Van Sickler (7-1).

Van Sickler allowed the five runs on 10 hits and one walk in 7 2/3 innings. This is his first loss since losing to eventual national champion Illinois Wesleyan in the NCAA National Championships last May.

Nelson, Kevin Brashears and Mike Minch all had two hits each for the Hornets.

Shenandoah hosts Catholic on Tuesday in a 4:00 non-league contest.