Box Score in HTML Format

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Five multi-hit performances highlighted an impressive offensive effort for the Christopher Newport baseball team in their season opener Wednesday afternoon, heating up a chilly afternoon with nine runs on 13 hits. The Captains (1-0) raced past Hampden-Sydney College (2-2) in the first game of 2016 by a final score of 9-3. 

Playing in the only game in the nation in Division III baseball on Thursday, the Captains picked up win number one behind a dominant effort from the top of the lineup. The first five hitters for the Captains registered 11 of the 13 hits, including a three-hit effort from senior outfielder Tommy Vitaletti to lead the way.

Vitaletti reached base in all five of his plate appearances, and scored a team-high three times. Junior A.J. Nicely (2-6), and sophomores Brandon Ginch (2-3) and Keith Roberts (2-4) backed up Vitaletti with six RBI, three runs scored and a pair of extra-base hits. Rounding out the top of the order was rookie leadoff man Jordan Mason, who capped a memorable collegiate debut with his first career home run in the bottom of the 7th inning. 

The Captains fell behind Hampden-Sydney, 2-0, after four innings from sophomore starter Craig Johnson. The right-hander struck out four in his first career start while allowing just three hits. One of the two runs was unearned, as a Tigers baserunner scampered home on a passed ball in the fourth. 

CNU tied the game at two in the bottom of the fourth when Vitaletti led off with a single followed by an RBI double by Ginch, hammered into the left field corner. Roberts followed with a game-tying RBI double of his own into right center field.

In the fifth inning, the Tigers pulled ahead again after capitalizing on a base-hit bunt, stolen base and single through the left side by Lee Carneal. Michael Thomas (1-0) came on in relief for the Captains and aside from giving up the one run, had a stellar outing for the CNU bullpen. In two innings of work, Thomas struck out five batters and allowed just one run on three hits. In support of Thomas, CNU would erase the lead again in the bottom half of the inning as Roberts added another game-tying knock to his day, plating Vitaletti with a single into left field. 

CNU took its first lead in the sixth when they got to reliever Trey Celata (0-1) for four runs. Four straight singles, including RBI knocks from A.J. Nicely, Vitaletti, and Ginch, started the CNU surge. The Captains added one more in the inning on a throwing error by the pitcher, as Vitaletti came in to score on the play.  

Carrying a 7-3 lead into the final three innings, the Captains bullpen took over. Junior Caleb Myers was incredible in his season debut, striking out Moe Gothe, John Lloyd and Carneal in order in the top of the seventh. Then, in the 8th inning, Myers gave up a bloop single to left before getting a pair of ground balls and another strikeout to finish the eighth. 

With two outs in the bottom of the 7th, Mason stepped in for what would be his final at-bat of the game, and delivered a solo home run to add to the CNU lead. The freshman left-handed batter got under a Zach Perkins offering and the ball carried over the right field wall. The Captains added one more on an RBI walk from Roberts later in the inning. 

Finishing out the game, senior reliever Adam Emerson pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts in his first appearance of 2016. 

The Tigers got two-hit performances from Gothe and Jacob Fontana, with RBI's from Carneal and Michael Flanagan. Celata was saddled with the loss after 0.2 innings of work, allowing five hits and four runs scored. 

In all, CNU pitching struck out 15 Hampden-Sydney batters and allowed just seven hits. Offensively, the Captains sprayed 13 hits around the park with nine runs scored. 

Due to cold weather forecast in Hampton Roads, the Captains' games scheduled against Bridgewater this weekend have been postponed. CNU's next game is set for Tuesday, February 16 at home against Virginia Wesleyan College at 2:00 pm.