Rocky Mount, N.C. - N.C. Wesleyan earned an impressive 10-6 victory over Christopher Newport on Wednesday afternoon, using a big early offensive surge and steady pitching to take down the nationally ranked Captains. The Battling Bishops totaled 15 hits and scored in four of the first five innings to build a lead they would not relinquish.
After allowing an unearned run in the first, Wesleyan quickly responded as Marlon Bowen and Brady Williams each singled to set up the inning before Maison Nance lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home the tying run. The Bishops took control in the second, plating three runs highlighted by a two-RBI single from Brady Williams and aggressive baserunning that added another run to make it 4-1.
Wesleyan continued to add on in the third and fourth innings, with Banks Hartman driving in two runs on a single and Aydin Zimmerman adding a sacrifice fly. Carson Ashman followed with an RBI double as part of a four-run fourth inning that pushed the lead to 9-1. The Bishops added another run in the fifth when Nance delivered an RBI single to extend the advantage to 10-1.
Christopher Newport attempted to rally late, scoring multiple runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but Wesleyan's pitching staff limited further damage. Preston Workman earned the win with four scoreless innings of relief, while Kaiden Liu, Caleb Dennis, Aaron Holley, Sam Johnson, and Drake Hobgood combined to finish the game.
At the plate, Travis Gamache led the way with four hits and three runs scored, while Hartman added three hits and two RBIs. Williams finished with two hits and two RBIs, and Bowen contributed two hits as the Bishops secured the midweek victory with a balanced offensive performance.
