NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- A.J. Nicely pounded his first home run of the season and the Christopher Newport pitching staff struck out 17 batters, but Hampden-Sydney capitalized on a seven-run fifth inning to sneak past the CNU baseball team, 7-5, during a non-conference battle on a frigid Thursday afternoon at Captains Park.
 
During the game, Ryan Powell struck out a career-high nine batters in 4.2 innings of work, while Joe Burris whiffed five during two spotless innings of relief. Overall, the squad's 17 strikeouts matched the second-highest single-game total in program history, but the Tigers were able to scratch out seven runs in the fifth to steal the victory.
 
On the offensive end, Nicely roped a pair of hits, including a two-run shot in the fourth inning to give the squad an early advantage. Brandon Walker also knocked in a pair during a three-run sixth, while Keith Roberts reached base safely three times during the contest.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 1-3 on the season, while Hampden-Sydney improves to 1-0.
 
From the start, Powell was nearly unhittable on the mound. The junior mowed down the Tigers over the first four frames. He struck out the side in each of the first two innings while sending five down swinging. Later, he opened the third with another strikeout, marking his seventh straight to open the contest. Although the visitors eventually broke up the no-hitter in the fourth with a dribbler through the right side, the Captains answered in the bottom of the inning.
 
Kicking things off, Josh Moore worked a one-out, four-pitch walk before Nicely made Hampden-Sydney pay. Facing an 0-2 count, the senior slugger went with a pitch on the outer half of the plate and slammed an opposite field bomb to right center, which gave the Captains a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately, the advantage was short-lived.
 
In the fifth, Hampden-Sydney shot back. Three of the first four batters reached on singles to cut their deficit in half. Later, with one down and runners on second and third, Cody Smith laid down a perfectly-placed squeeze, which eventually chased in a pair of runs and gave the visitors their first lead. Five batters, two hits, and a pair of walks later, the Tigers plated four more runs to grab a 7-3 advantage.
 
Needing to respond, the Captains fought back in the sixth. After Nicely reached on an error and Craig Johnson drew a free pass, Walker put a charge into an 0-1 pitch and launched a double to dead center, which chased in a pair and pulled Christopher Newport back within two.
 
One inning later, after Burris continued to silence the Hampden-Sydney lineup, CNU had its best chance to pull even. Moore and Nicely led off the seventh with back-to-back walks before Johnson reached on an error while laying down a sacrifice bunt. With the bases juiced, the Captains looked ready for a big inning, but HSC's Michael Flanagan stuck out the next two batters before inducing an inning-ending fly ball to keep Christopher Newport off the board.
 
Still within striking distance, Thomas Packert took over on the hill and worked two scoreless innings while striking out three. He also benefited from terrific defense by Roberts at third. First, while shaded towards the hole, he made a tremendous play to get back to the bag, snag a great throw by Walker, and lay down a quick tag to catch a Tiger attempting to steal. Moments later, he made a leaping grab on a hot shot that settled into the tip of his glove for the final out of the inning.
 
Unfortunately, CNU could not quite match that performance at the plate. Although Nicholas Baham punched a single in the eighth and Nicely worked a leadoff walk in the ninth, both Captains were left stranded on the way to the two-run setback.
 
Matthew Metheny (1-0) earned the victory with a scoreless inning of relief for the Tigers, while Powell (0-1) took the loss despite his brilliant start to the game. Meanwhile, Jayson Maitland earned the save for his work in the ninth.
 
Christopher Newport will be back at home on Friday when the Captains open up a three-game series with Ferrum at 2 p.m.
 
---CNU---