NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport baseball team is back in action on Tuesday afternoon, hosting 16th-ranked Randolph-Macon College (11-1) with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 pm. The No. 24 Captains (10-1) face the Yellow Jackets in their first nationally-ranked battle of the season, kicking off a difficult week that includes the conference opener against 7th-ranked Salisbury on Wednesday afternoon.
Live stats will be available at first pitch, at CNUsports.com/live.
The Captains come into Tuesday's matchup winning 10 of their first 11 games, while Macon has been off to a hot start as well, winning the first 11 games of the season before suffering their first loss on Sunday. Both teams were unranked in the preseason national poll, but vaulted into the Top 25 in last week's first listing of the regular season.
Christopher Newport has used a thrilling brand of baseball that includes seven come-from-behind victories and two walk-off wins already this season. The Captains' offense has been impressive all season long, outscoring opponents 109-48 while hitting .318 as a team. Five starters are hitting .324 or better, including senior
Tommy Vitaletti with a .545 clip that includes 17 RBI and 17 runs scored. Vitaletti ranks in the top ten in the nation in several statistical categories, including fifth in total hits, third in total bases and fourth in stolen bases.
On the mound, senior closer
Adam Emerson ranks fourth in the nation in saves, going 3-for-3 in save opportunities this season. He has been set up by junior
Caleb Myers, who leads the Captains in appearances with eight, striking out 11 batters in 15.1 innings of work.
Like the Captains, Randolph-Macon features a deep offense with six different players who have registered double-digit hits this season. Travis Lodge, hitting .429, has been one of the team's top run producers with 10 RBI and 8 runs scored, while Cole Migliorini has a team-high 12 RBI while hitting .379. On the mound, starter James Walsh already has 42 strikeouts in 26.1 innings of work to lead the Yellow Jackets in four starts.
Following Tuesday's matchup with Randolph-Macon, the Captains will take on Salisbury at 2:00 pm on Wednesday and then will host a conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 12 against St. Mary's (Md.).
