NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Five Captains roped two hits apiece, while Michael Thomas and Caleb Myers teamed up on a three-hit gem as the Christopher Newport baseball team toppled Ferrum, 6-1, during a non-conference battle on a sunny Friday afternoon at Captains Park.
 
Leading the way, Ryan Grubbs roped two hits, knocked in a pair, and made a terrific defensive play at the plate to thwart a Ferrum rally. Keith Roberts also had two hits and scored twice, while Nicholas Baham gave the Captains an early lead with his third home run of the season.
 
On the mound, Thomas carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and eventually surrendered just one hit while striking out five to earn his first victory of the season. Later on, Myers took over in the seventh and worked the final three frames to earn his third collegiate save.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 2-3 on the season, while Ferrum falls to 0-2.
 
Setting the tone early, Thomas kept the Panthers off the scoreboard while benefitting from some strong defense. In the first, he worked out of a minor jam with a pair of strikeouts before a nifty 4-6-3 double play ended the second. Roberts also made a terrific play to kick off the third inning as he ranged far to his right, gloved a shot down the third base line, and fired a long strike across the diamond to keep the no-hitter intact.
 
Although Ferrum was equally tough on the CNU lineup during the first two frames, Baham quickly flipped the script in the third. Leading off the inning, he turned on the first pitch and hammered a line drive screamer over the fence in left center to give the Captains a modest 1-0 advantage.
 
Holding a slight edge, Thomas continued to quiet the visitors. He struck out three over the next three innings and helped himself with a fine play in the sixth. Leading off the frame, a Panther chopped a dribbler that died between the plate and the mound. Showing quick instincts, Thomas came storming off the hill, grabbed the roller, and unleashed a dart to first, which cut down the runner by half a step.
 
Still fostering a one-run lead, Christopher Newport picked up some breathing room in the sixth. After Roberts reached on a leadoff single and A.J. Nicely followed with a one-out double, Grubbs stepped in with a pair of runners in scoring position. Looking to capitalize, he turned on a pitch and ripped a two-run double just inside the leftfield line. Four batters later, after Jordan Mason and Austin Henry drew walks to load the bases, Baham worked a free pass of his own to bring in Grubbs and snatch a 4-1 lead.
 
In the top of the seventh, with Thomas still working on a no-hit bid, the Panthers finally broke through. Following a leadoff walk, Tim Ortega lofted a deep fly ball to right center. Although Mason had a beat on it in centerfield, the wind eventually caught the looper and pushed it back towards the infield just enough to fall into open spaces for an RBI double and Ferrum's first hit of the game.
 
Later in the inning, following a walk and a sacrifice bunt, the Panthers had a pair of runners in scoring position with only one out. In a tough situation, Myers came out of the pen and induced another fly to center. After settling under the ball for the second out, Mason showed off his right arm to end the inning. The sophomore unloaded a perfect throw to the plate. On the other end, Grubbs gloved it and held on during a brutal collision to register the third out.
 
Still leading by three, the Captains tacked on some insurance in the seventh and eighth. First, CNU played a little small ball to plate the team's fifth run. Following a leadoff walk, Roberts stole second after Nicely distracted the catcher just enough to prevent an on-target throw. Later, after Nicely reached on a single, Roberts returned the favor. Although a pickoff attempt had Nicely in a rundown, Roberts danced off third and drew the defense's attention, which helped Nicely slide safely into second.
 
Two batters later, Joseph Cutchins lofted a fly ball to center, which chased in Roberts for the squad's fifth run.
 
In the eighth, after Myers sent down the Panthers in order, Christopher Newport capped off the scoring. Following a walk to Baham and back-to-back singles by Roberts and Brandon Ginch, the Captains had the bases loaded with one out. Playing perfect situational baseball, Craig Johnson found his pitch and came through with another sacrifice fly to bring in the sixth and final run.
 
With three outs to go, Myers ended a modest threat by the Panthers in the ninth with a game-ending 1-6-3 double play to close out his first save since 2015.
 
Overall, the Captains posted 11 hits in the game and worked seven walks. Roberts reached base safely four times with two hits, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. Baham also drew two free passes to go along with his monstrous home run.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. when the Captains continue their three-game series with Ferrum.
 
---CNU---