NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The two best teams in NCAA Div. III baseball, according to the D3Baseball.com/NCBWA National Rankings, will be in one place this weekend, and that place is Captains Park on the campus of Christopher Newport University. The second-ranked CNU squad will play host to top-ranked Shenandoah University in a pivotal USA South Athletic Conference series, with 1:00 pm games on Saturday and Sunday.

Christopher Newport has raced out to a 28-2 start this season and will be wrapping up their USA South slate against the Hornets, posting a 9-1 mark in league play so far. Shenandoah is 20-1 overall with a game today against Randolph-Macon, and have posted an unbeaten 8-0 record in USA South action.

The Saturday matchup will be presented in a live video webcast through Captains Sports Live on the CNUsports.com website and live stats will also be available.

Sean Chitsaz, senior right-hander for the Captains, is set to face off against All-American Greg Van Sickler in Saturday's contest between two of the nation's top pitchers in 2011. Chitsaz has posted a 6-2 mark with a 1.76 ERA, while striking out 6.9 batters per nine innings. He has led the way for CNU all season and has tossed a team-high 51.0 innings. Van Sickler, a two-way player for SU, is 7-0 this season with a 1.17 ERA and 8.0 K/9.

Offensively, both teams are among the nation's best. Shenandoah ranks first in the country in home runs per game, while the Captains lead the nation in total hits (327) and home runs (27). CNU has also been stellar defensively, turning the most double plays in the country this season (34). Both teams rank in the top 30 in scoring offense and have several players individually ranked in several categories.

The Captains have been led by Matt Shoemaker, who ranks second in the nation in total hits this season and fourth in runs scored. Left fielder Connor Madden has blasted seven home runs, second in the nation in that category, and also ranks third in RBI, second in total bases.

Shenandoah has three players in the Top 100 in batting average, led by Kurt Krout, ranked 22nd with a .482 clip. Kevin Brashears and Clint DeHaven provide the power, combining for nine home runs this season.

The two games will play a heavy hand in playoff seeding as the USA South Tournament is just two weeks away. First pitch is set for 1:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.