NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Behind a potent lineup, which erupted for 16 runs on 14 hits, the Christopher Newport baseball team rolled past Ferrum in the series finale as the Captains registered a 16-1 victory on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon at Captains Park.
 
Nine different Captains collected a hit during the game, including a 3-for-5 effort by Jordan Mason. Austin Henry also added two hits, including his first collegiate home run, while Nicholas Baham and Brandon Ginch contributed a pair of hits as well.
 
On the other side, CNU kept the Panthers quiet throughout the game. Nate Matheson earned the victory after allowing just one hit in five innings of work before the bullpen took over with four clean frames to close out the win. Overall, the Captains scattered four hits during the game while surrendering just a single run in the second inning.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 3-4 on the season. Ferrum falls to 1-3.
 
Right from the start, the Captains asserted themselves with an incredible first inning. After Matheson struck out a pair during the top of the first, the CNU lineup went to work in the bottom of the frame. Mason led off with a double before Joseph Cutchins and Baham worked walks to load the bases. Following an error by the Panthers that led to the first run, the floodgates opened.
 
Continuing to show patience at the plate, Keith Roberts and Craig Johnson drew a pair of bases-loaded walks to add two more runs to the board. Later, A.J. Nicely lofted a sacrifice fly to left before Henry stepped in with two on and two out. Looking to add the perfect punctuation mark, the sophomore shortstop took a 1-0 offering and laced a line-drive shot over the left centerfield fence for a three-run blast and a fast 7-0 lead.
 
Although the Panthers were able to toss a run on the board in the second despite an outstanding over-the-shoulder grab by Baham, the Captains immediately responded. Following his defensive work, Baham led off the bottom of the second with a single to left before coming around on a double by Johnson. Later, Nicely punched an RBI single back up the middle before Ryan Grubbs smacked a sacrifice fly to left, which capped off a three-run inning.
 
Unrelenting at the plate, Mason continued to torment the Ferrum pitchers. In the third, the sophomore reached on a leadoff walk before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Roberts. One inning later, he stepped to the plate with two runners on and quickly cleared the bases after drilling a triple down the leftfield line that kicked up chalk and rattled around the corner. Fittingly, after legging out a triple, he was able to jog the final 90 feet after Cutchins smoked a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield.
 
While the offense was doing its job, Matheson continued to shine on the mound. The junior struck out a pair in the third, added another 'K' in the fourth, and induced a nifty 3-6-3 double play to prevent any damage in the fifth. Later, after the twin killing, he exited the game with an exclamation point as he painted the outside corner for his sixth strikeout before handing the ball over to the pen.
 
Holding a 14-1 lead, the Captains added two more runs in the sixth to pad their advantage. After Elliott Sledd was hit by a pitch, John Anderson flashed some strength as the sophomore catcher pulled a ball on the outer half of the plate and dropped it just inside the rightfield line for a two-base hit. Later, Nick DiNapoli lifted a sacrifice fly to right before Mason slammed an RBI single to cap off the scoring.
 
Although the lineup made the loudest noise on Sunday, the pitching and defense quietly did their job as well. Logan Aylor worked a perfect sixth, including a pair of strikeouts, while Austin Slough struck out one and induced an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play in the seventh. Later, Alex Biddison worked a quiet eighth and benefited from tremendous defense up the middle.
 
With one down, DiNapoli ranged far to his left, gloved a shot up the middle, and made a throw across his body on the run for the second out. Two batters later, his double play partner added the defensive play of the week. With a runner on first, Parker Mason laced a bullet that appeared destined for the rightfield gap. Incredibly, J.T. Bellotti elevated and made a leaping, fully-extended, mid-air grab to glove the rocket and end the inning.
 
Looking to close out the contest quickly, Jackson Galvin came in the game in the ninth and generated a groundout to open the frame before kicking off a sweet 1-6-3 double play to put the victory in the books.
 
Overall, the Captains flipped three double plays and were perfect in the field for the second time this season.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Tuesday when the squad continues its homestand with a 2 p.m. battle against Elmira.
 
---CNU---