DOVER, Del. -- Looking to maintain a pristine record in conference play, the 23rd-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team is back in action on Saturday, April 8, as they travel to Wesley College for a Capital Athletic Conference doubleheader. The Captains enter the twin bill with a 23-10 overall record and a perfect 13-0 mark in conference play; they'll face a Wesley squad that is 13-11 and 5-8 so far this spring.
The two conference rivals will face off at Bob Reed Field in Dover, Delaware, with live stats available at first pitch scheduled for game one at Noon.
CNU holds a slim advantage on first place in the league standings, with Salisbury just one game back at 12-1. Both teams have already clinched a spot in the postseason, with just five games remaining in the conference regular season. Through those final five games, starting with Saturday's action, seeding will begin to take shape. Wesley currently sits one game behind Frostburg State and Mary Washington, and one game up on Marymount as the teams battle for the last two spots in the CAC Tournament.
CNU has won 14 of the last 15 games, including all 13 matchups in conference play. The Captains moved into the national rankings this week after a 13-game winning streak, powered by one of the nation's most balanced teams. The Captains offense ranks third nationally in runs scored, total hits, and home runs, while the pitching staff also ranks second nationally in shutouts, 10th in hits allowed per nine innings, and 24th in team ERA.
The rotation has been particularly impressive over the last 15 games, posting a 2.45 ERA with all five of the team's shutouts in that run. Rookie
Thomas Packert (5-0) has been a big catalyst, starting three of the shutouts, while senior
Mike Thomas (6-1) and sophomore
Logan Harrelson (4-3) each started one apiece. Thomas leads the league in innings pitched, and ranks second in ERA with a 1.71 mark. Packert is right behind him, ranking third with a 1.91 ERA, while adding 55 strikeouts in 47 IP.
Offensively, two Captains rank in the top 25 nationally in total bases, as senior
A.J. Nicely has put together the finest year of his career during his swan song campaign. Nicely leads the league and ranks 13th nationally in total bases with 71, as the senior is batting .410. Sophomore
Nicholas Baham also ranks 23rd nationally in total bases, with 68, and leads the team in HR (7), RBI (34), and extra-base hits (14).
Wesley comes into Saturday's matchup led by senior outfielder, Trey Mears, with a .543 average in 24 games played. Mears registered his 200th career hit in the Wolverines last game, and currently leads the league with his teammate Chris Seibert with 13 doubles. Seibert is hitting .429 with 41 RBI to join Mears atop the statistical leaders for Wesley, while three more Wolverine regulars are hitting .326 or better.
On the mound, Wesley has struggled through 200.2 innings of work with just seven pitchers seeing action. Junior Alex Marrs (6-2) leads the rotation with 61 strikeouts in 47.2 innings of work while registering a 3.02 ERA. Senior Connor Springsteen (2-2) has appeared in 13 games out of the pen with a 3.77 ERA, saving one game with 29 strikeouts in 28.2 innings of work. As a team, the Wolverines have a 6.68 ERA this season.
After the doubleheader in Delaware, the Captains will wrap up a five-game road swing at Salisbury on Wednesday, April 12 in a game likely vital to postseason seeding.
