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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Despite giving up five runs in the first inning, the Christopher Newport baseball team rebounded to defeat Rutgers-Newark on Friday afternoon, 8-6. The Captains bullpen was tremendous, tossing 8.2 innings and allowing just one unearned run, while sophomore catcher Brandon Walker led the offense with 3 RBI and a pair of home runs. 

The Captains improve to 3-0 to start the season while the Scarlet Raiders dropped their season opener, falling to 0-1 overall. 

Things looked bleak for CNU early in the contest Friday, as Rutgers-Newark took advantage of a bases loaded situation in the first inning. Back-to-back batters earned RBI's the hard way, with hit-by-pitch plate appearances, followed by a two-run single by Ryan MacFarlane. The Scarlet Raiders would extend the lead to five on an RBI groundout by third baseman Brian Kokos. 

Reliever Austin Slough (1-0) stopped the bleeding by inducing back-to-back groundouts to escape the inning, but the Captains offense faced a challenge to get back into the game. Fortunately, there was plenty of time left and the Captains would start chipping away in the second inning. 

Leading off the bottom of the second, senior first baseman Connor Henderson launched a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall for his first home run of the season, getting CNU on the board. Just two batters later, Walker kicked off his fine performance with the first of two solo home runs in the game, blasting a shot to left center for his first career dinger. 

In the third, CNU tacked on one more run, cutting the lead to 5-3. With one out, Tommy Vitaletti singled, advanced to third on a double down the line by Brandon Ginch, and trotted home on an RBI single to left by Keith Roberts. 

Slough continued to throw well, holding the visitors to just three base runners between the 2nd and 4th innings. In the fourth, the Captains offense would finally get him out in front with a four-run inning. Walker kicked things off with another home run, lifting a 1-1 pitch to left. Rookie Austin Henry followed him with a double down the line and advanced to third on a hot shot single to third base by Jordan Mason.

With two on and one out, Vitaletti continued his strong day with a single to right center, floating an opposite field shot just beyond the outstretched arms of the center fielder. Following his RBI single, he stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, setting up a sacrifice fly by Brandon Ginch to finish out the run scoring in the inning. 

Putting Slough in position for his first collegiate win, head coach John Harvell called on Michael Thomas in the fifth. The junior lefty promptly tossed a 1-2-3 fifth inning as the CNU bullpen continued to baffle the Rutgers-Newark offense. An unearned run would come in during another strong sixth-inning performance by Thomas, as he struck out one and induced a pair of groundball outs. 

Headed into the final third of the game, CNU junior Caleb Myers came on to pitch and struck out one in each of his clean innings. Myers has started the year with six strikeouts in four innings of work in two appearances. 

In the bottom of the 7th, CNU added one more run as Walker capped his 3-for-4 performance with a rocket shot that one-hopped the left-center field wall for a double. He picked up his third RBI with the poke, plating Henderson, who had walked earlier in the inning. 

Finally, holding onto an 8-6 advantage headed into the ninth, CNU went to senior closer Adam Emerson for the final three outs. It took just 10 pitched for the right-hander to pick up his first save of the year, retiring the side in order. 

Vitaletti led the Captains with a 5-for-5 performance at the plate, scoring twice and adding one assist. Walker was 3-for-4 and all three went for extra bases as he scored twice and added three RBI. 

Slough's winning line was 3.2 IP, with no runs, two hits and four strikeouts in the game. He combined with Thomas, Myers and Emerson to toss 8.2 innings of 1-run ball, giving up just four hits and striking out eight. 

MacFarlane's two-RBI single led the way for Rutgers-Newark, as he finished with a 2-for-3 performance. Starter Chris Nichols (0-1) picked up the loss after tossing the first four innings, allowing seven earned on 10 hits. Billy Taylor, who was 1-for-3 at the plate, finished the game with four strong innings of relief, allowing just one run on three hits. 

The two teams will return to Captains Park for the second game of a two-day series on Saturday, February 20 with first pitch at 1:00 pm.