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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Rookie Craig Johnson finished a double shy of the cycle to lead a valiant offensive effort against the top-ranked Salisbury University Sea Gulls on Thursday afternoon, but the Captains (10-11, 4-9) suffered their fourth straight loss, 12-7. Johnson led the way, going 3-for-4 with his first career home run, a smoldering shot off the scoreboard in right field.

Salisbury improves to 16-0 to start the year, including an 11-0 mark in league play. Despite the setback, Christopher Newport is only the third team to score as many as seven runs against the Sea Gulls, and only the sixth program to register at least 11 hits against them this season. 

A five-run first inning proved to be the back-breaker on a beautiful, sunny afternoon at Captains Park. Junior right-hander Adam Emerson (1-3) struggled with his command in his fourth start of the year, allowing the first four batters to reach, including a two-RBI single from Bobby Sanzone. After striking out Alex Lipman, another run scored on a sacrifice fly by Austin Barefoot. Designated Danny Breen would deliver a two-run double two batters later, capping the big inning to start the game. 

CNU played the No. 1 team in the nation from that point on, tying Salisbury 7-7 after the top of the first. The Sea Gulls took an 8-1 lead after three, and increased the advantage to 11-3 after six, but the Captains staged a bit of a comeback in the final three innings. CNU outscored Salisbury, 4-1, in the final three frames. 

After falling behind 6-1 through 1.5 innings, Johnson led things off in the bottom of the second with a hard hit triple to the gap in right center field. He scored two batters later on a groundout to the right side, getting CNU on the board with an RBI going to Bryant Lowry. 

In the third inning, rookie Ryan Powell came on to relieve Emerson and escaped the inning with no further damage by striking out Jordan Gowe. The freshman would toss 2.2 innings, allowing two unearned runs while striking out a pair. 

CNU tacked on a run in the third courtesy of a sacrifice fly from A.J. Nicely, plating Josh Moore. In the sixth, CNU manufactured another run by loading the bases with one out before a Tyler Wood single scored Johnson. The freshman right-fielder had singled earlier to start another run-scoring inning for CNU.

The big inning for CNU came just one frame later, as the Captains scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh, pulling back within four runs, 11-7. Keith Roberts led off with a walk, followed by a seeing-eye single up the middle for Nicely. Roberts came in to score on a throwing error on a groundball by Ginch, setting up Johnson's fourth plate appearance of the game. Facing Salisbury reliever Dylan Anderson, the left-handed Johnson smashed the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for a two-run dinger. 

Unfortunately for the Captains, the rally was halted when the Sea Gulls called on Pete Grasso to close out the game. He tossed the final 2.2 innings for Salisbury, allowing one unearned run on three hits, striking out three batters. The Captains scored on a double play ball in the bottom of the eighth, but Grasso retired the side in order to finish out the game in the ninth. 

Johnson's 3-for-4 effort included two RBI and three runs scored with a walk, leading the offense for CNU. A.J. Nicely and Josh Moore also had multi-hit efforts for the Captains, and Moore scored twice. Johnson also came in to pitch the final inning for CNU, allowing one run on two hits. 

Salisbury junior Connor Shockley (3-0) got the win for the Sea Gulls, giving up three runs and five hits in 5.1 innings of work. Four Sea Gulls finished with multiple hits, led by Breen's 3-for-3 performance with two RBI. Grasso scored four times and added a 3-hit day, while Sanzone led the team with four runs driven in. 

The Captains will wind down the season with five straight games on the road before finishing out the regular season at home on April 11. CNU travels to St. Mary's (Md.) on Saturday, April 4 for a doubleheader set to begin at Noon.