NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- A battle for the top spot in the Capital Athletic Conference is set for Wednesday at Captains Park, as the Christopher Newport baseball team will look to continue a seven-game winning streak when the Captains play host to Salisbury University at 3:00 pm. Both teams are unbeaten in CAC play with matching 6-0 records, while the Captains are 16-9 overall and the Sea Gulls are 13-6. 

A live video webcast and live stats will be available starting with the first pitch, scheduled for 3:00 pm. Both can be found at CNUsports.com/live. 

Salisbury comes in as the first team in the "Others Receiving Votes" category of both major polls, including the National College Baseball Writers' Association (NCBWA)/D3baseball.com Top 25. The Sea Gulls were ranked No. 24 in the preseason poll, but a slow start to the season bumped the Captains' CAC rival out of the rankings. After starting 2-4, Salisbury has run off wins in 11 of their last 13 games, including a six-game winning streak. 

The Captains are riding a seven-game winning streak heading into Wednesday's matchup, powered by exceptional pitching and timely offense. The Captains pitching staff has picked up three shutouts during the win streak, while holding opponents to four runs or fewer in all seven games. Meanwhile, the offense has been firing on all cylinders, registering at least 11 runs in three wins during the streak, while averaging 9.3 runs per game. 

The Sea Gulls feature this week's CAC Player of the Week, Pete Grasso, and Pitcher of the Week, Jeff Oster. Oster picked up his third such recognition after a complete-game two-hit shutout last week against Mary Washington. Grasso registered his 200th career hit during last week's action, while going 8-for-11 with 6 RBI. The senior is hitting .356 with 18 RBI and 20 runs scored to help lead the way for the Salisbury offense this season. Scott Ardoin leads the team with a .361 average, while Jack Barry has posted a team-best 22 RBI with six extra-base hits, including three home runs. 

The Captains will counter the talented Salisbury offense with a pitching staff that has lowered it's team ERA to 3.12 on the season. Sophomore Thomas Packert (4-0) leads the charge with a 0.68 ERA over 26.2 innings of work, while striking out 35. Senior Michael Thomas (4-1) has posted a 1.93 ERA in his six starts, while striking out 40 in 42.0 innings pitched. The bullpen has been stalwart, with Joe Burris (1-0, 0.56 ERA) and Caleb Myers (0-0, 2.08 ERA) reaching double digit appearances last week. Burris has appeared in over half of CNU's contests with 13 appearances, and has registered three saves. Myers has appeared in 11 games, giving him 59 career appearances during his tenure as a Captain. He ranks fourth all-time in CAC history and trails Wesley's Andrew Cooper by just eight appearances for a spot atop the all-time chart. 

Offensively, the Captains have boasted a balanced attack this season, with six regulars hitting over .300 this season. Senior A.J. Nicely leads the pack with a .384 mark while ranking second on the team with 19 RBI. Sophomore Nicholas Baham has a team-best 22 RBI and ranks second on the team with a .366 average. Baham also has blasted six home runs to help bolster his team-high .634 slugging percentage. Designated hitter Brandon Ginch (.358) and right fielder Craig Johnson (.333) have combined for 7 HR, 34 RBI and 34 runs scores. 

As a team, CNU is closing in on 750 wins in program history, with just nine more needed before eclipsing the milestone marker. Following Wednesday's action against Salisbury, the Captains will hit the road this weekend to play at St. Mary's College of Maryland on Saturday, March 25. First pitch is set for Noon.