NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The nationally ranked Christopher Newport University baseball team will take the field for the first time on Thursday, hosting Hampden-Sydney College (2-0) at 2:00 pm. The Captains, coming off one of the most successful seasons in school history, return eight offensive starters and two of three starting pitchers.

Thursday's game at Captains Park is the first of six home games to open the 2012 season. CNU holds an 18-7 advantage on Hampden-Sydney all-time, including two wins last season. This is the fourth straight season CNU will open against the Tigers, winning three of the last four season openers.

Head coach John Harvell enters his 12th year at the helm for CNU baseball, coming off a season where he won his 300th career game. The Captains earned the program's first ever number one national ranking last season, after a program-record 26-game win streak, and were the top seed in the NCAA Regional after winning the USA South Championship.

First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm and live stats will be available at CNUsports.com.