NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Conference action gets off the ground faster than ever before this season as the 6th-ranked Christopher Newport Captains take on Ferrum College in USA South Athletic Conference action. Captains Park will host a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 11:00 am, followed by a single game on Sunday at 1:00 pm. Live stats will be available at CNUsports.com.

The Captains (1-0) won their season opener on Monday, defeating Hampden-Sydney College, 16-5, behind reliever Adam Emerson (1-0). The CNU offense exploded in its first game back on the field, smacking 10 hits and taking advantage of 13 free passes. Junior shortstop Billy Steel (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs) and sophomore Curtis Pittman (2-4, 2 RBI, 1 run) led an attack that saw every starter log at least one run scored and one RBI. 

This season, CNU expects to have a solid pitching staff, led by this weekend's probable starters Brandon Taylor (LHP-Richmond, Va.), Austin Chrismon (RHP-transfer from East Carolina), and Bryan Bierlein (RHP-Chesterfield, Va.). Bierlein returns for his third season under Coach Harvell, posting a career mark of 9-3 with a  2.85 ERA. In the bullpen, seniors Richard Lindsay, Matt Verdillo and Ryan Fleischmann are expected to lock down the later innings.

Ferrum comes into this weekend's series after a 1-1 start, pulling out a one-run win against Eastern Mennonite before falling in a one-run game to Roanoke College. Eddie McGrath has started the year 3-for-6 with an extra-base hit and two RBI while Taryn Hayden and Trey Laney have also registered multi-RBI starts. The Panthers were picked second, along with Piedmont College, in the USA South Preseason Coaches Poll.