WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Christopher Newport baseball team will hit the road for its first away game of the season on Thursday, February 18 as they travel to face Gallaudet University (0-0) at 2:00 pm. The Captains (1-0) open a stretch that includes four games in four days and nine in the next eleven. After facing the Bison, CNU will return home to host Rutgers-Newark on back-to-back days Friday and Saturday, before welcoming in The City College of New York (CCNY) on Sunday.

Led by head coach John Harvell in his 16th season, the Captains opened the year last week with a 9-3 victory over Hampden-Sydney. Senior Tommy Vitaletti was 3-for-4 with an RBI and 3 runs scored, while Michael Thomas (1-0) earned the victory in relief, striking out five batters in 2.0 innings of work. The pitching staff struck out 15 batters in the season opener, while the offense pounded out 13 hits. 

CNU welcomed back seven players to the starting lineup in the opener, including seniors Kyle Corwin, Connor Henderson and Vitaletti. On the hill, sophomore Craig Johnson got the call in game one and will be available again this weekend. Also returning to the rotation in 2016 are senior Blake Ream and sophomore Joe Burris, while senior Adam Emerson has moved back to the bullpen where he opened the year with a perfect ninth inning against the Tigers.

Gallaudet will be opening their season against the Captains at Hoy Field in Washington, D.C. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at first pitch, set for 2:00 pm. Last season, the Bison finished with an 8-29 overall record.

Following Thursday's action, the Captains will return home for three games at Captains Park over the weekend. At 2:00 pm on Friday and 1:00 pm on Saturday, CNU will host Rutgers-Newark before taking on the CCNY Beavers at 2:00 pm on Sunday. CCNY will also play Rutgers-Newark in neutral site action at 11:00 am on Sunday morning.