Tournament Website

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The 16th-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team begins play in the 2016 Capital Athletic Conference Baseball Championship on Tuesday afternoon, kicking off this year's tournament at second-seeded Marymount University at 1:00 pm. The Captains, seeded fifth, will be playing their eighth game in nine days as they take on the Saints in the double-elimination tournament. The two teams will then advance to play at host and top-seeded Frostburg State University starting Thursday, April 21. 

Christopher Newport (25-12) will be making its third appearance in as many years in the CAC Tournament, boasting four wins in the event over the last two seasons. The Saints (20-15) are making their first ever showing in the conference tournament after starting the program three years ago. The Captains won both matchups against Marymount earlier this season, taking game one of a doubleheader at Captains Park by a score of 7-4 and game two, 11-1. CNU is 5-1 all-time against the Saints. 

In other action around the conference, sixth-seeded Penn State Harrisburg will open at #1 Frostburg State at 3:30 pm, while #4 Wesley travels to #3 Salisbury with first pitch also slated for 3:30 pm. CNU is playing in "Game 2" of the 2016 CAC Tournament, with the losing team slotted to play an elimination game at 9:00 am on Thursday, and the winning team matching up against the Wesley/Salisbury winner at 4:00 pm. For a full schedule, see below.

The Captains will play at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, where the Saints are 8-0 this season. There is no cost for admission and live stats will be available for those unable to attend. 

The power hitting offense of Christopher Newport will be taking on a Marymount squad that has allowed the second fewest runs in the league this season. CNU's pop has been anchored by one of the top single seasons in program history for Tommy Vitaletti, who leads the Captains in most offensive categories. The senior outfielder leads the league in runs scored, with 44, ranks second in HR, with 10, and fourth in RBI, with 41. No other player in the conference is in the top five in all three categories. Senior first baseman Connor Henderson has also helped bolster the power stroke with a career-high eight home runs this season, driving in 39 runs for the Captains. 

On the pitching mound, CNU has been led by junior lefty Michael Thomas (4-0, 2.68 ERA), who has been named to the D3baseball.com National Team of the Week twice this season. Thomas has struck out 36 batters in 37.0 innings of work, holding opponents to a .215 BAA. Senior close Adam Emerson has locked down seven saves this season and boasts 31 K in 20.1 IP, leading the Captains in K/9. 

Marymount has leaned on strong pitching this season, posting a league-leading team ERA of 3.98 in just under 300 innings of work. Sophomore Collin Bazemore has started 10 games and leads the team with a 2.75 ERA over 55.2 innings of work. Bazemore has struck out 45 batters this season, leading the Saints. Sophomore Dylan Gerdtsis also over 50 innings of work for Marymount and has a 3.02 ERA in 12 appearances, nine starts. 
 

2016 CAC Baseball Tournament Schedule
(all CAC Tournament games are 9 innings):

First Round -- Tuesday, April 19 -- 3:30 p.m. 
Game 1 - #6 Penn State Harrisburg at #1 Frostburg State
Game 2 - #5 Christopher Newport at #2 Marymount
Game 3 - #4 Wesley at #3 Salisbury

Championship Weekend at Frostburg State-- April 21-23
(all games played at #1 seed Frostburg State)

Thursday, April 21 at Frostburg State
Game 4 - Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, 9 a.m. 
Game 5 - Game 1 Winner vs. Game 3 Loser, 12:30 p.m. 
Game 6 - Game 2 Winner vs. Game 3 Winner, 4 p.m. 

Remaining matchups dependent on the number of teams remaining in the tournament