Game 1:  Box Score in HTML Format  ||  Box Score in PDF Format
Game 2:  Box Score in HTML Format  ||  Box Score in PDF Format

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport baseball team suffered a doubleheader sweep at the hands of 25th-ranked Frostburg State University (12-0, 5-0), as the undefeated Bobcats won game one, 16-10, and game two, 9-5. The Captains (6-5, 1-4) smacked 21 total hits in the twin bill, but the powerful Frostburg State offense was too much on Sunday afternoon.

The Bobcats feature seven seniors in their starting lineup, and the veteran presence was evident from the opening batter. Senior shortstop Ricky Castro slammed a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall for a leadoff home run to put Frostburg State up, 1-0. The solo shot turned out to be a precursor of things to come, as the Bobcats offense would go on to tie the CAC record for HR in a game, with eight. 

Jumping out to a 7-0 lead, all seven runs were scored via the long ball, including back-to-back-to-back home runs in the third inning. Ricky Brady kicked the run off with a three-run shot, followed by solo homers from Zach Keeler and Lane Farmer. 

Trailing 7-0 heading into the fourth inning, the Captains got back into the game with four runs in the bottom half. Four straight singles to start the inning got CNU on the board, including a two-run single up the middle from junior shortstop Kyle Corwin. Keith Roberts and Brandon Ginch scored on the play, while Connor Henderson moved up to third base. After FSU starter Bennett Schiltz got back-to-back strikeouts, the Captains struck for two more on a single by designated hitter Bryant Lowry. 

With the lead cut to three, the Captains could not hold the Frostburg offense from putting up another big inning, answering with six runs in the top of the fifth to re-take control. Farmer blasted his third consecutive home run, tying the school record for HR in a game, leading the Bobcats offense to a 13-4 edge halfway through the game. 

After the Bobcats added three more in the seventh, CNU closed the game on a 6-0 run for the final score of 16-10. The Captains put up five in the eighth as head coach John Harvell cleared the bench and gave the reserves a shot at the Frostburg pitching staff. Henderson doubled to lead off, and scored on a single from Craig Johnson. A.J. Nicely added an RBI single before Carter Biringer singled to left to put two on with one out. After a strikeout, Taylor Loudon blistered a hard hit shot down the left field line for a double, scoring another run, and setting up a big swat from the fourth pinch hitter of the inning, Alexander Crittenden. The sophomore smoked a shot into right field that got all the way to the wall for a triple, scoring two more CNU runs. 

The late rally would not be enough, as the Captains fell in game one, 16-10. Schiltz (4-0) got the win, tossing 7.1 innings with 8 strikeouts. Michael Thomas (2-1) suffered the loss for CNU. 

In game two, it was another big inning that proved to be the difference for CNU. Tied 2-2 after four innings, the Bobcats put seven on the board in the fifth to take a 9-2 lead. The CNU bullpen shutout the Bobcats the rest of the way, but the offense managed just three more runs to fall by a final score of 9-5. 

Clayton Freimuth (3-0) had a stellar start for Frostburg State, allowing just three hits in 7.0 innings of work, striking out 12. Cameron Parker (0-2) struck out six for CNU, in four innings of work. 

The Captains bullpen was strong for the last four innings, as Caleb Myers, Brett Mays and Justin Garber each struck out a pair in their appearances. Myers allowed two hits in 2.0 innings, and Mays gave up one hit in his inning of work, while Garber tossed a perfect ninth. 

Offensively, Henderson and Corwin each had an RBI double in the eighth inning to lead the way for CNU in the second game. 

Frostburg State left the park two more times, including the fourth of the season for Brady, who finished game two with a 3-for-5, 4-RBI performance. 

The Captains return to action on Monday, March 16 with a doubleheader scheduled against the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks. First pitch is set for 2:00 pm at Captains Park.