Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1:  Box Score in HTML Format
Game 2:  Box Score in HTML Format

FROSTBURG, Md. -- In a showdown of nationally-ranked teams fighting for positioning in the Capital Athletic Conference standings, it was 22nd-ranked Frostburg State that got the better of 11th-ranked Christopher Newport on Saturday afternoon, earning a doubleheader sweep. The Captains (19-8, 7-5) suffered a 7-0 loss in game one and a 6-2 setback in the second matchup. 

Frostburg State improved to 14-7 overall with an 8-4 record in league play, overtaking the Captains in the CAC standings by one game. CNU falls to a tie for fourth place with Wesley College, who the Captains will host on the final weekend of the regular season. 

In game one, the Captains' managed more hits against one of the league's top pitchers, Greg Schneider, than any of his first five opponents, but the Frostburg sophomore scattered the nine base knocks to avoid any trouble. CNU was held scoreless by the All-American, as he improved to 4-0 with 12 strikeouts in a complete game shutout. 

The Captains left runners stranded in five of the nine innings by Schneider, including loading the bases in the 8th and 9th innings. In the 8th, Collin Lawless started the inning with a single, followed by back-to-back one-out singles by rookies Jordan Mason and Austin Henry. Schneider escaped with back-to-back strikeouts, though, to keep CNU off the board. Then, in the 9th, Keith Roberts led things off with a double, and the bases were loaded a pair of walks by Kyle Corwin and A.J. Nicely, but Schneider closed out the win without allowing a run to cross. 

Mason and Roberts each had three-hit efforts in the game, while Henry and Connor Henderson also reached twice with a pair of walks. Ryan Powell (2-1) suffered his first loss of the year after allowing six runs, three earned, over the first five innings. Sophomore Joe Burris pitched well in relief, allowing just three hits and one unearned run over the final three innings, striking out a pair. 

In game two, another near complete game effort by Anderson Burgess frustrated the Captains offense. Burgess improved to 3-0 this season after allowing just five hits with 11 strikeouts over 8.2 innings of work. Nick Huff came on for a one-out save, his fifth, when CNU put two on in the top of the 9th inning. 

The Captains struck first in the second game when Brandon Ginch delivered an RBI single in the top of the 1st inning. Ginch singled into left field to plate Mason, who added his fourth hit of the day to lead off game two. In the bottom of the 1st, however, Frostburg State scored three runs as K.J. Hockaday drove in a pair with a triple and Zach Keeler doubled down the line to give the home team a 3-1 advantage. 

In the top of the 4th inning, CNU added their second run of the game when Tommy Vitaletti led off the inning with a walk. He moved up to second on a wild pitch and raced home three batters later when Henderson drove him in with a single through the left side. Burgess and Huff would hold the Captains without a hit over the final five innings, though, to deter any comeback effort. 

Five different Captains registered base hits in the second game. Austin Slough started the game, and suffered the loss after giving up five runs over 6.0 innings pitched. Craig Johnson continued to pitch well out of the pen, striking out four in the final two innings on the mound for CNU. 

On Monday afternoon, the Captains will host N.C. Wesleyan in non-conference action as they look to get back on track with a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 pm at Captains Park.