Baseball's Bid For Series Sweep With Averett Comes Up Short, 9-1

NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Christopher Newport's baseball team was looking to start the conference schedule off with a three-game sweep Sunday afternoon but the Cougars of Averett came away with a 9-1 win.

Keith Lawrence silenced the Captains bats that stung his teammates for 19 runs Saturday. Lawrence set down the first 14 batters he faced before allowing Trey Collier's single to rightfield in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lawrence pitched a complete game, allowed one unearned run on five hits, walked none and struck out six.

AU plated eight runs in the top of the fifth and added a single run in the seventh. CNU scored its only run in the bottom of the seventh on a Jayson Basanes sacrifice fly that scored John Corbin.

Steven Mingee went five innings for the loss and allowed eight runs on seven hits and walked two batters. Brandon Berry pitched a scoreless sixth, allowing two hits, Hunter West pitched the seventh allowing one run on two hits, Josh Hankins tossed two scoreless innings to close it out. He scattered two hits and walked one.

Collier finished with two of CNU's five hits. Garrett Robinson, John Corbin and Mike Giarrizzi each had one hit.

CNU falls to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the USA South. CNU returns to action Tuesday as they travel to cross-water rival VA Wesleyan with first pitch set for 2 pm.

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