HAMPTON, VA. – Shannon Mark went 4-for-5 with three doubles and drove in three runs as NCAA Division III top-ranked Christopher Newport University defeated the Apprentice School 9-1 at War Memorial Stadium on Wednesday.

The Builders scored in the first inning as Josh Tuck was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a Chris Kennedy single to right.  Corey Gallaway followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Tuck with what turned into the lone run for the home team.

CNU tied it in the top of the third on a Mark double to right center which plated Connor Madden who earlier doubled to right center.  In the fifth they scored a pair on a RBI triple from Mark and on an error.

Madden joined the multi-RBI brigade driving in a pair with a triple in the sixth and the Captains broke it open with three in the eighth on a wild pitch and RBI hits from Drue Vernon and another double from Mark.  Steven Keener drove in the final run with a single in the ninth for a 9-1 decision.

Nick Santalucia combined with three other pitchers to hold the Builders to five hits and one run.  Chris Scarola had two of the five hits for the Builders on the day as Ethan Halberg took the loss throwing 4.2 innings and allowing three runs and four hits.

Apprentice School returns to action on April 27 when they host Danville CC in a doubleheader starting at 1 pm.

USCAA POLL – BUILDERS REMAIN FOURTH

The latest USCAA Coaches Top 20 was released earlier on Wednesday and the Builders remained in fourth place.  Apprentice School trails top-ranked Southern Virginia, University of Dallas and Briarcliffe College in the rankings. 

For the complete poll – click here.