Moore pitches Battling Bishops to league split with CNU

Newport News, VA - Behind a solid pitching performance by junior right-hander Ben Moore, the North Carolina Wesleyan baseball squad was able to salvage a USA South split with Christopher Newport over the weekend after downing the Captains by a 9-6 score on Sunday. Moore (pictured) struck out ten and allowed just one earned run in 8 2/3 innings of work en route to his second win of the season. The Bishops, who are now 1-1 in league play, had previously dropped a 7-3 contest to CNU on Saturday.

Sunday's game proved to be a pitcher's dual as the two teams remained scoreless until the sixth inning. It was then that junior Travis Beausoleil singled home Justin Rahm to give the Bishops a 1-0 lead.

CNU managed to tie the score with a run in the seventh, but Wesleyan exploded for eight runs in their final two at-bats. Justin Batts highlighted the offensive production with a two-run homer in the ninth.

The Captains made it interesting with four unearned runs in the bottom of the frame. After recording the first two outs of the inning, the Bishops watched as CNU loaded the bases on a walk, error, and infield single. A bases-loaded double by Trae Bailey plated all three, prompting NCWC head coach Charlie Long to bring in Jon Lucas for the final out.

Beausoleil and Batts each finished with two hits to pace Wesleyan offensively.

Saturday's game saw CNU take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a Chris Despins RBI-single that scored Mike Giarrizzi. The Captains scored two more in the bottom of the third.

The Bishops cut the lead to 3-2 by scoring single runs in the top of the fifth and sixth innings. Batts and Chris Pecora each collected an RBI.

CNU took control by scoring four in the bottom of the eighth inning for the 7-3 final. Kenny Moreland picked up the win by tossing eight innings and allowing two runs on seven hits.

Kyle Robertson (2-1) suffered his first loss of the year. He gave up three runs on eight hits in six innings of work. Pecora paced Wesleyan at the plate with a 3-for-5 showing.

While in Newport News, the Bishops also took on Ramapo College of New Jersey. Wesleyan was able to come away with a 15-2 win over the Roadrunners to move to 13-3 overall.

The Bishops will take on non-conference rival Virginia Wesleyan College on Monday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. in Virginia Beach.

Return to Baseball Main