NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- On Monday afternoon, the 11th-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team will host North Carolina Wesleyan College in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm. The Captains carry a 19-8 overall record into the twin bill, taking on a 22-11 Battling Bishops squad coming off a series win against Piedmont College this weekend.
The two former conference rivals will play a pair of seven-inning games at Captains Park, with live stats available at CNUsports.com/live. Links are also available on the baseball schedule at CNUsports.com.
North Carolina Wesleyan holds a 55-33 advantage in the all-time series, but CNU is 10-2 all-time against the Bishops at Captains Park. The Captains are looking to erase a three-game slide coming into Monday's matchup.
Junior
Keith Roberts has been leading the attack of late, riding a nine-game hitting streak and a 22-game reached base streak. He ranks second on the team in hitting, with a .370 average, and leads the attack with a .487 on-base percentage. Rookies
Jordan Mason and
Austin Henry have also caught fire, hitting .343 and .317 in their first campaign. Senior
Tommy Vitaletti still leads the Captains in virtually every offensive category, scoring 36 times with 31 RBI, paired with a .404 average and 17 stolen bases.
After joining the bullpen, sophomore
Craig Johnson has taken over as one of the top relief arms. In five relief appearances, Johnson has allowed just two runs over 16.0 innings of work, while striking out 19. Sophomore
Joe Burris has also been terrific in 13 relief appearances, striking out 25 in 22.2 innings of work with a 2.78 ERA.
N.C. Wesleyan won two of three this weekend against Piedmont, improving to 13-5 against the USA South Athletic Conference. James Lovett, senior catcher for the Bishops, has paced a talented offense to the tune of a .407 average in 33 games played. He has driven in 34 RBI with 9 HR and 25 runs scored. Senior Ciro Norzagaray is hitting .379 with 26 RBI and 33 runs scored. Norzagaray has also closed out games this year, with four saves in 9.2 innings.
Following Monday's doubleheader, the Captains will return to CAC action on Wednesday, hosting Southern Virginia University at 3:00 pm.
