WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In the first road game of the season, Christopher Newport shut out Gallaudet University (0-1) and used a seven-run fourth inning to power past the Bison. The Captains won 9-0, improving to 2-0 in the young season after an impressive pitching performance by four CNU arms. 

Playing on a sunny, but chilly Thursday afternoon at Hoy Field in Washington, D.C., the Captains called on sophomore Ryan Powell to start. The second-year right-hander was impressive, allowing just four baserunners in four innings of work. After the CNU offense staked him to a one-run lead in the top of the first, Powell worked a three-up, three-down bottom half to open his season with a strong inning.

In the second inning, he struck out the side. First, he painted the inside corner on a 3-2 pitch to Justin Strong, and followed it up with swinging K's by Kyle Gumm and Zack Crawford. 

Offensively, CNU stranded four runners in the first three innings, but cashed in with seven runs in the fourth. Seniors Connor Henderson and Kyle Corwin opened the inning with back-to-back singles and Henderson would start the scoring as he hustled home after a throwing error and a passed ball. Then, with a runner on third base, rookie Austin Henry whistled a double down the line to plate two more. 

After a groundout registered the first out of the inning, A.J. Nicely stepped in and delivered an RBI single. Senior Tommy Vitaletti walked and the Captains executed a double steal, with Nicely scoring on the second error of the inning. Vitaletti would jog home just one batter later when Brandon Ginch smoked a double into left center. As the lineup turned over, CNU loaded the bases on a walk and a hit-by-pitch, setting up an RBI single up the middle by Corwin to cap the 7-run surge. 

Now holding onto a big lead, Powell retired the side in order in the fourth, capping his day with his sixth strikeout for the third out. Sophomore Joe Burris (1-0) would come on in relief to make his season debut and struck out a pair in the fifth inning. He got a pair of ground balls in the sixth, including an inning-ending double play up the middle. Burris finished with 3.0 innings, striking out one with just one hit allowed. 

Carrying an 8-0 lead into the final inning, Christopher Newport tacked on one more with a two-out RBI from Collin Lawless. Rookie Alex Abbey walked ahead of Lawless, who pinch-hit for starting catcher Brandon Walker and delivered a double into right field. 

Rookies Kyle Zimmermann and Jackson Galvin would close out the game pitching the 8th and 9th, respectively, and both were stellar in their collegiate debuts. Zimmerman tossed a clean 8th inning with just 11 pitches and then gave way to Galvin. After a runner reached on a throwing error, Galvin promptly struck out the next two batters and induced a game-ending grounder back to the mound to wrap up the win. 

Offensively, Corwin led the Captains with a two-hit performance, while Henry drove in a pair and Nicely scored twice. Connor Henderson was 1-for-1 with a pair of walks, driving in a run and scoring once.

The 1-2-3 hitters for Gallaudet finished with one hit each, while Jake Grindstaff added one out of the nine hole. Ben Coleman (0-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs in 3.1 innings of work. 

Christopher Newport is back in action on Friday, February 19 as they host Rutgers-Newark at 2:00 pm. CNU will also play the Scarlet Raiders again on Saturday at 1:00 pm, followed by a matchup with The City College of New York (CCNY) on Sunday at 2:00 pm. Live stats will be available at CNUsports.com/live.