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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Two games into the 2015 season and the Captains already have a pair of one-run victories. The second came in thrilling fashion on Saturday afternoon on day two of the Methodist Diamond Invitational, as Christopher Newport (2-0) scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to rally past McMurry University (3-3) in a 5-4 final.

Junior third baseman Connor Henderson delivered a 4-for-4 performance at the plate, and junior starter Blake Ream tossed 5.2 strong innings in his debut for the Captains.

Ream was on top of his game early, retiring the first 14 batters he faced and registered five strikeouts in five innings of action. The Captains staked the right-hander with a two-run lead, scoring one run in each, the second and fourth inning. 

First, CNU got on the board after Henderson led off with a triple and scored on an infield single by Josh Moore. Then, in the top of the 4th, CNU scratched another run across as Henderson again came around to score, this time on a Kyle Corwin RBI double. 

Ream started off the sixth with another strikeout and induced a groundout to run his game-opening no-hit run to 17 outs. Back-to-back walks would come back to haunt him, however, as the first and only hit he allowed all afternoon would come next, a go-ahead three-run home run from Cody Howard. The junior was replaced by Michael Thomas, capping his debut line with 5.2 innings pitched, six strikeouts and three earned runs allowed on one hit. 

Thomas tossed the next 1.1 innings, allowing one earned run in the bottom of the seventh as the War Hawks took a 4-2 lead. McMurry delivered a two-out RBI single off the bat of Kyle Sargent. Mitch Labbie started for the War Hawks and pitched 6.2 strong innings with six strikeouts and just two runs allowed. Reliever Trevor Ragsdale was called on to finish the seventh and pitch the eighth and did so unscathed. Still on to start the ninth, Ragsale walked the lead-off man, Josh Moore. 

After Jesus Vasquez was called on to attempt the save, CNU mounted its rally. Travis Myers drilled a double to left field putting the game-tying run in scoring position with nobody out.  An infield single to the left side from A.J. Nicely plated the first and moved Myers up to third base. Leaving no doubt, Taylor Loudon crushed a double to left field to tie the game and put the go-ahead run at second base. After a costly passed ball, Keith Roberts picked up the eventual game-winning RBI with a sacrifice fly to center field; Loudon raced home to give CNU a 5-4 lead. 

In the bottom of the ninth, head coach John Harvell called on Caleb Myers to close with a one-run lead. Myers got a groundball out from the first batter, and then struck out back-to-back hitters to end the game. 

The thrilling ending was set up by a solid performance offensively by the Captains, who delivered 11 hits with six going for extra bases. Myers was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, while Henderson scored a pair of runs in his 4-for-4 day. The CNU pitching staff held McMurry to just four hits, striking out 11 in the contest. 

Christopher Newport wraps up the tournament on Sunday against the host Monarchs of Methodist University at 3:30 pm. Live stats available at CNUsports.com.