NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 17th-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team is back in action on Wednesday, April 17 as the Captains (28-11-1) travel to Randolph-Macon for a 3:30 pm first pitch. CNU will look to avenge an early season setback to the Yellow Jackets (16-13-1), who won 11-8.

Christopher Newport has just two remaining regular season games including Wednesday's tilt against R-MC. CNU will also travel to Hampton, va. on Thursday, to take on the Newport News Apprentice School.

The Captains' pitching staff ranks first in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (9.6), led by junior transfer Austin Chrismon. The USA South Pitcher of the Year leads the nation in strikeouts (81) and boasts a K/BB ratio of 9.0 through his first 10 starts. He is 7-3 overall with a 1.49 ERA, anchoring a staff that has posted a 2.98 ERA this year.

Senior Ryan Fleischmann, the USA South's all-time leader in saves, has made a team-high 18 appearances with a record 11 saves, ranking third in the nation. He has allowed just two earned runs in 22 innings of work while making his 84th career appearance to tie for seventh all-time at NCAA Division III.

Offensively, CNU is led by USA South Player of the Year Justin Weaver, hitting .404 with 46 runs batted in, ranking sixth nationally. He has added 11 steals and 29 walks to go with his 22 extra-base hits. Junior shortstop Billy Steel (.352, 43 runs, 29 RBI) leads the team in home runs with three, and is among the national leaders in hit-by-pitch and sophomore center fielder Preston Grissom is hitting .342 with 21 stolen bases.

Randolph-Macon is hitting .299 as a team this season while the pitching staff has struggled to a 4.63 ERA. Mitchell Keeler leads the offense, with a .390 average through 21 games started, smacking four home runs. Tim Benjamin (.325) leads the team in RBI with 25 while Jeb Weymouth (.322) has scored a team-high 26 times. 

Live stats will be available for today's game.