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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Trailing by five runs heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Christopher Newport baseball team showed some mettle with a four-run rally, but could not complete the comeback and fell to Mary Washington (7-0, 1-0) in Capital Athletic Conference action, 6-5. The Captains fell to 6-3 overall with a 1-2 mark in league play. 

Both teams got terrific starts from their pitching staff, as sophomore Ryan Van Assche (3-0) got the win for the Eagles with a 7-inning, seven strikeout performance, allowing just one run. The Captains leaned on junior starter, Adam Emerson (1-1), who suffered the tough-luck loss despite 5.1 innings of strong pitching, with five strikeouts and just two hits allowed. 

The two starters were locked in a pitchers duel through the first five innings, with just five hits and one run allowed combined. CNU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Travis Myers slammed a two-out RBI double between the center- and right-fielders, plating Josh Moore who had reached on a single one at-bat prior.

Things unraveled for the Captains in the top of the sixth, as Mary Washington got on the board and took a 5-1 lead. The Eagles posted three hits and were aided by three CNU errors in the inning. The first knock came off the bat of league-leading hitter Jono Haught, when he belted a double to right center to score the tying run. Chasing the first runner, Justin Kime also tried to score but a terrific relay from Travis Myers to Keith Roberts to Brandon Walker nailed the runner at the plate.

The stellar defensive play was not enough to turn the momentum, however, as another error plated a run, followed by RBI hits from David Slupek and pinch hitter Thomas Weaver. Caleb Myers induced an inning-ending groundout, but the damage was done. 

CNU jumped on Van Assche in the seventh, getting back-to-back singles from A.J. Nicely and Roberts, but the Mary Washington starter got out of the inning unscathed, as the Captains left the bases loaded. 

In the top of the ninth, the Eagles tacked on what would prove to be an imperative insurance run off of CNU reliever Justin Garber. After two quick outs, Kime singled and would come around to score three batters later on a bases-loaded walk by James Keller.

The comeback started with the first hitter of the inning for the Captains, as Nicely singled down the right field line. Roberts was drilled with a pitch to put two on with nobody out, and Connor Henderson loaded the bases with a hit to center field two batters later. With one out now, Kilbourne was hit by a pitch, driving in the first run, and junior Kyle Corwin pounded a shot through the right side to plate two more.

With runners at the corners, a wild pitch would score CNU's final run, before Tyler Daig came on to secure the save. Taylor Loudon put the ball on the ground on the left side, but Kime, the shortstop, went deep into the hole, turned and fired to second base to end the game before the tying run could score. 

Three CNU players finished with multi-hit performances, led by Corwin with a 2-for-5 day and two RBI. Roberts was 2-for-3 with a walk and an HBP, while Nicely added a 2-for-4 effort. The Captains outhit the Eagles, 10-7, as Slupek was the only Mary Washington player with multiple hits, going 2-for-5. 

Seven different pitchers combined to get through nine innings for CNU, including a perfect inning from Michael Thomas and a strong inning from Cameron Parker, who allowed one walk while striking out one. 

The Captains are scheduled to take on Frostburg State on Saturday, March 14 at 12:00 pm, followed by a non-conference twin bill on Sunday, March 15 against Stevens. Stay tuned to CNUsports.com for any schedule updates prior to the weekend.