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BURLINGTON, N.C. — Third-seeded Shenandoah University overcame a rough start to power its way to a 19-5 victory over No. 4 seed Christopher Newport University in seven innings Saturday in the USA South Conference Tournament at Burlington Athletic Stadium.
Shenandoah (32-6), the final unbeaten team in the tournament, advances to Sunday's championship. Shenandoah will play the winner of Saturday's late game between Christopher Newport and the Averett-Ferrum winner.
The Hornets recovered after allowing four runs to Christopher Newport (20-13) in the top of the first inning. The Captains pounded out five hits in their first at-bat, including an RBI single by Parker Neal, an RBI double by Ben Lenda and a two-run single by Michael Romett.
Shenandoah designated hitter Greg Van Sickler cut CNU's lead to 4-1 with an RBI single in the first, and Cory Nelson led off the bottom of the second with a solo homer to right-center to chop the Captains' advantage to only two runs.
The Hornets' offense then exploded in the fourth inning. Shenandoah scored 17 of its 19 runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to easily pull away. Nelson and Kevin Brashears both smacked solo homers in the fifth inning, and the Hornets strolled past the 12-run margin needed to end the game early thanks to an eight-run sixth inning.
Bryce Sears (2-2), who entered the game in relief in the second inning, allowed just one run on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts over the final six innings to notch the win. He got plenty of help from his offense, which finished with 18 hits. Brashears, Van Sickler and Adam Delauter all finished with three hits. Brashears added four RBIs and four runs scored.
Christopher Newport, which left eight runners on base and hit into three double plays, had 11 total hits. Lenda, Steven Lindemuth and Connor Madden each had two hits.
