Baseball Ousted From USA South Tournament, Falling 5-3 To Greensboro

BURLINGTON, NC - Christopher Newport's baseball team was eliminated from the 2006 USA South Conference Tournament Friday evening with a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Greensboro.

Greensboro College rode the arm of starter Chatham Bray and the bat of Pat Burgess, who hit two home runs, to eliminate the Captains.

The Pride hit the scoreboard early and often as they scored one run in each of the first two innings and scored two more in the top of the third.

Brent Justice led off the game by doubling to right field and advanced to third on a sacrifice. Burgess's RBI single to right center gave Greensboro the early 1-0.

Taylor Kennedy led off the second for the Pride by singling, Chris Hewitt followed with a single putting runners on first and second. After Buddy Allen reached on a fielder's choice forcing Kennedy out at third, Hewitt scampered to third on a wild pitch and scored on Justice's fielder's choice to lead 2-0.

Jeff Gregory led off the third with a walked and came around to score on Burgess' 11 th home run of the year to increase Greensboro's lead to 4-0.

Chatham Bray retired the first eight batters before CNU's Trae Bailey smacked his second solo home run of the tournament with two outs in the bottom of the third inning.

The Pride extended its lead back to four on Burgess' second home run of the day, this time a solo shot off reliever Kevin Moreland.

CNU got two runs back in the bottom of the eighth. Garrett Robinson led off the inning smacking a home run to left field. The Captains then loaded the bases and pinch hitter John Corbin poked a base hit through the right side scoring the second run of the inning cutting the lead to 5-3.

Christopher Newport attempted to mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth when they loaded the bases with one out, but pinch hitter Mark Genovese flew out to shallow left field for out number two and Bailey grounded out into a force play at second to end the game.

Bray went 7 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out one to improve to 5-3. Chad Clark threw three pitches and got the last two batters out to get the save.

Brandon Berry started for CNU went two-plus innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Kevin Moreland was solid in relief for the Captains, tossing six innings, allowing one run on four hits. Eben Brower pitched a scoreless ninth for the Captains.

GC was led by Burgess who went 4-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI and two runs scored. Jess Maloney was 2-for-4 in the win.

CNU was paced by Bailey who went 2-for-4 with a solo home run. Four other Captains had one hit each.

Greensboro improves to 25-14 on the year and will advanced to play Methodist Friday night at 7 pm in an elimination game and for the right to take on NC Wesleyan Saturday in the championship game. Christopher Newport falls to 17-16 on the year.

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