WINCHESTER, Va. - NC Wesleyan scored three runs in the second and two more in the third to jump out to a four-run lead and then held on for an 11-9 Dixie Conference victory over host Shenandoah University Sunday afternoon.

Just as in its Saturday victory, Wesleyan (14-10, 3-1) used the long ball to get Sunday's triumph. Down 1-0 after Mike Arvizo (Palmdale, Calif./Antelope Valley) drove home Manny Yanas (Palmdale, Calif./William Penn) with a two-out double, the Bishops struck back in their next at-bat by putting two of their first three batters on base. 

Josh Lipford then blasted a three-run homer, giving NC Wesleyan a lead it would not relinquish.

Despite being down 7-1, Shenandoah (2-12-1, 0-4) got back into the game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. JJ Rosati (Palmdale, Calif./Long Beach State) started the rally off with home run to right, and then the next five hitters reached base safely. 

Now down just 7-5, the tying run at the plate and no outs, SU seemed ready to complete the comeback. Unfortunately, Wesleyan had other ideas. Rodney Harris came on in relief of starter Mark Dexter, snuffed out the rally with two strikeouts and a groundout and allowed the Bishops to maintain a two-run cushion.

This would be as close as the hosts would get for the rest of the contest; Shenandoah answered a four-run NCWC rally in the sixth with two in the bottom of the sixth and two more one inning later, but could not get over the hump.

A complete box score and play by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/bb/2003/032303.htm

Shenandoah hosts Mount Aloysius Tuesday in a 4:30 doubleheader.