Baseball | 4/17/2009 6:10:02 PM

ELON, N.C. - Third-seeded Christopher Newport University outlasted No. 2 seed Methodist University 16-13 in a scorefest Friday morning in the elimination game of the USA South Conference Tournament at Elon University's Latham Park.

Trailing 13-12 after seven innings, Christopher Newport (20-8-1) put up two runs in the eighth and two runs in the ninth to take the lead and pull away.

The Captains advance to play No. 7 Averett University at 3 p.m. Friday afternoon at Burlington Athletic Stadium. Methodist (24-12) was eliminated from the tournament.

Christopher Newport took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Methodist's offense answered with three runs over the next two innings to tie the game. The Captains took a brief 4-3 advantage before the Monarchs put up two in the fourth to take the lead.

The two teams traded four-run at-bats in the fifth before the Captains went ahead 11-9 in the fifth. Methodist regained the lead with three runs in the sixth capped off by a two-run home run from Trey Such, and the two teams each scored a run in the seventh.

The Captains broke through in the eighth when Mike Romett led off with a double and later scored on an error to tie the game at 13-13. CNU took the lead later that inning on a Ben Lenda RBI single.

Chris Despins helped seal the win with a two-run homer in the ninth.

Such finished 2-for-4 with four RBI while Davis hit 3-for-5 with three RBI.

Methodist pitcher Elliott Bisplinghoff started on the hill pitching three innings before Kurt Kelly went 1.2 in relief. Tre' Britt got the Monarchs out of a jam in the fifth before Matt Partin went 2.1 innings to take the loss. Ryan Fasano finished off with 1.2 innings of relief.

Kevin Moreland took the win for Christopher Newport as he pitched three hitless innings of relief with eight strikeouts.

Methodist will travel to Emory Apr. 21 for a doubleheader.

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