BRIDGEWATER, Va. - Bridgewater College scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday afternoon to take the lead and the Eagles held on for a 5-4 victory over No. 2 Christopher Newport.

The victory was the second this season for the Eagles over a team ranked No. 2 in the national poll. In the opening week of play, Bridgewater defeated then No. 2 Cortland State, 15-14.

The Captains jumped on Bridgewater starter Tyler Milstead for a run in the first on a run-scoring single by Luke Saunders, one of three hits in the first inning for the Captains.

Milstead settled in and held CNU scoreless for the next five innings, but CNU held on to the lead as Captains starter Bryan Bierlein blanked the Eagles for the first six innings.

CNU nicked Milstead for another run in the top of the seventh before the Eagles broke through with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead.

Brett Howell singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh but was forced out at second on Alex Hogge's grounder. Pinch-hitter Dustin Arrowood lined a single to left to put two runners on and Bryan Sanderson followed with a double to score Hogge with BC's first run. Arrowood was retired at the plate on a grounder, but Jonathan Mason kept the inning alive with a single to load the bases. Andrew Hacker then hit a soft line just over the shortstop's head for a two-run single, giving the Eagles a 3-2 lead.

The lead didn't last long as the Captains answered with two runs in the eighth. With one out, Shannon Mark bunted for a hit and Luke Saunders followed with a single to center. Ben Lenda then doubled to right-center to drive in Mark. Saunders scored when the throw back to the infield bounced away and the Captains were back on top, 4-3.

Jay Thompson led off the bottom of the eighth with a single for the Eagles and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Hogge and Sanderson both walked to load the sacks with two outs. Kevin Kirk then hit a grounder to third, but the throw to second to end the inning sailed into rightfield allowing Thompson and Hogge to both score, giving the Eagles a 5-4 lead.

Pinch-hitter led off the ninth with a single off BC freshman Kyle Henshaw, but the Eagles made then made the biggest play of the game when third baseman Matt Maher fielded Billy Steel's sacrifice bunt attempt and started a 5-6-3 double play. Henhaw recorded the final out on a grounder to short to close out the 5-4 victory.

Milstead allowed four runs, three earned, on 10 hits in eight innings to pick up the win. Milstead improved to 5-1 on the season.

At the plate, Sanderson had a big day for the Eagles, reaching base five times on three hits and a pair of walks. Hacker finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Eagles.

The Eagles are now 19-12 overall while CNU drops to 29-4. Bridgewater is back in action Thursday when it hosts Ferrum College.