Baseball | 3/5/2011 7:56:27 PM

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Methodist baseball team dropped two games at No. 25 Christopher Newport University on Saturday in the first USA South conference action of the season.

The two teams battled through four and a half innings of scoreless baseball until the Captains got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Connor Madden led off with a double and scored on Luke Saunders' RBI single for what would be the only run of the game.

Tyler Younger tried to spark a rally in the eighth when he singled down the right field line and Dustin Brown reached on an error, but CNU held onto the shutout by turning a double play.

Younger went 1-for-2 in the game while Brandon Thigpen and Shawn Lovette added a hit apiece.

Tre' Britt pitched the complete game scattering seven hits with three strikeouts to take the loss.

The Captains took the early lead in game two when Saunders hit a two-run home run after a lead-off walk. Brian Inghram singled and Trey Such drew the walk in the fourth, but both runners were left stranded. CNU capitalized on two hits and a walk in the seventh to move ahead 4-0.

Methodist responded in the eighth with a two-out rally when Brian Inghram drew a walk and Trey Such was hit by a pitch. Brandon Thigpen singled to advance the runners, but Inghram was called out at home to end the inning. The Captains retired the next three batters in the ninth to finish with the 4-0 win.

Tripp Lancaster went 2-for-4 in the game. Andrew Womble pitched six innings scattering five hits with six strikeouts to take the loss. Rett Lee and Rusty White finished in relief.

The Monarchs will be back in action on Tuesday when they host Penn St. - Abington at 4 p.m.

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