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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Sophomore second baseman Keith Roberts hit his first home run of the season, and delivered the go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the eighth, leading the Captains (3-1) to a come-from-behind victory over Eastern Mennonite, 4-3. The Royals dropped their season opener, while CNU picked up their third win in four games.

Pitching by committee in Wednesday's game, eight different pitchers combined for a three-hitter against Eastern Mennonite. Joe Burris got the start, and struck out two in his only inning of work. 

In the second inning, the Royals took a 3-0 lead, courtesy of three CNU miscues in the field. With junior Blake Ream on the mound, a single to left and an error plated the first run. After a passed ball brought in another run, a third would come around on an errant throw following an infield pop-up.

Those would be all the runs Eastern Mennonite would score, though, as the Captains pitching staff dialed in  allowing just two hits and two walks in the final seven innings of work. The Royals' starter Aaron Hooven finished up his season debut with a strong four innings of work, striking out four with three hits allowed. 

Offensively, CNU finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning when Connor Henderson led off the inning with a single. With one out, Josh Moore singled up the middle to advance Henderson to third, who would then score on a single up the middle by sophomore A.J. Nicely. 

Leading off the seventh inning, Roberts stepped in and cut the lead in half with a shot that carried the left field wall. Then, just one inning later, the Captains' newcomer would deliver in a big way, capping a stellar afternoon at Captains Park. Moore started the inning with his second single of the day, followed by a single through the right side by Brandon Ginch. With two on and nobody out, Nicely dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners up 90 feet. One batter later, with two outs, Roberts stepped in an sliced a two-out, two-RBI single to right field, chasing in the game-tying and eventual game-winning run. 

With a one-run lead and just three outs to get to secure the win, head coach John Harvell turned to Austin Kilbourne for the save. He quickly disposed of Kyle Armstrong with a strikeout to start the ninth, and induced a groundout from Brandon Carroll for the second out. With the Royals clinging to their last change, Kilbourne got a called strike three on the outside corner to pick up his second K of the 9th, and first save of his career at CNU. 

Caleb Myers (1-0) earned the victory in relief, after allowing just one baserunner in two innings of work. He was the only CNU pitcher to toss more than one inning, finishing with two scoreless and hitless on the books. The staff combined for eight strikeouts, including two from Kilbourne and Burris.  

Austin Marzullo (0-1) suffered the loss for Eastern Mennonite, after pitching a scoreless seventh inning, but starting the eighth with back-to-back singles allowed. 

Offensively, Roberts was 2-3 with two walks, three RBI and a run scored in a phenomenal home debut. Moore and Kyle Corwin each posted two-hit performances as well, while Kilbourne added a pair of walks. 

A schedule change was announced to the CNU docket this weekend, due to winter weather expected in the area. The Sunday matchup with Bridgewater has been re-scheduled for Friday, February 13 at 2:30 pm. The Captains game against N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday, February 14, will continue as originally scheduled. 

Live stats will be available at CNUsports.com/live.