Game 1:  Box Score in HTML Format
Game 2:  Box Score in HTML Format

DOVER, Del. -- The 23rd-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team suffered it's first losses in Capital Athletic Conference play on Saturday, as the Captains fell on the road in a doubleheader sweep to Wesley College (15-11, 7-8). CNU suffered an 8-3 loss in game one and dropped an 8-5 decision in the nightcap. With the setbacks, the Captains fall to 23-12 overall, and slide into second place in the league standings with a 13-2 record in conference play. 

In the opening game, the Captains' senior starting pitcher Mike Thomas (6-2) was locked in a pitcher's duel for six innings, with the teams tied at 1-1. In the seventh, however, errors doomed Thomas' outing as the Wolverines scored seven runs to take a comanding 8-1 lead with limited time left. CNU would score twice in the eighth, but was unable to stage a comeback. 

In game two, CNU fell behind, 8-0, after six innings, and again tried to mount a come-from-behind effort. The Captains cut the lead in half in the top of the eighth, and tacked on another run in the final inning, but could not complete the rally. Senior A.J. Nicely registered his fifth home run and extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games, but it would not be enough against the Wolverines. 

The doubleheader started on a high note for CNU, behind another strong outing from Thomas. Through the first six innings, the southpaw was dealing for his ninth consecutive start, allowing just four hits, three of them of the infield variety. He also induced a pair of inning-ending double plays and struck out six as he matched the Wesley starter by allowing just one run. 

The game unraveled in the seventh when Cody Dmiterchik broke the game open with a three-run single. The Wolverines would go on to add a pair of home runs in the inning, scoring seven runs with two outs. 

The next half inning, CNU got a single from Keith Roberts to start things off, and a two-run home run from Brandon Ginch to answer the 7-run outburst, but it was all the Captains could muster. 

Sam Meck (3-3) came away with the win after allowing all three earned runs in 7.1 innings of work, striking out five. Senior Connor Springsteen cleaned up the win with 1.2 hitless innings of relief, striking out a pair. 

Only two of the eight runs allowed by Thomas were earned. Caleb Myers pitched the final frame for CNU, as he made his 63rd career appearance. Offensively, Ginch was 2-for-4 with the two-run HR , and Craig Johnson added a 2-for-3 effort. 

In game two, Wesley starter Cody Simet (3-2) matched his season-high with an 8.0 inning performance, allowing four earned runs on six hits, while striking out five batters. He was staked to an early lead, as Wesley scored two in the first and one more in the second inning. 

The Wolverines added three more in inning number four, and built the lead to 8-0 after six. Junior Chris Seibert led the way for Wesley, going 3-for-4 with a HR, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored. 

CNU attempted to flip the script with a nice eighth-inning performance. Brandon Walker opened things up with a single, followed by an Austin Henry walk. Jordan Mason then stepped in and broke up the shutout with an RBI double. With runners at second and third, Roberts grounded out to deliver another RBI, and then Ginch added a sacrifice fly. With two outs, Nicely stepped in and pounded a shot out just inside the left field foul pole. 

The at-bat would proved to be Nicely's last of the day, and the round-tripper was his only hit in game two, as he extended his hit streak to a team-high 11 games. 

In the ninth inning, CNU added one run on an error for the final score of 8-5. Logan Harrelson (4-4) suffered the loss after 5.1 innings of work, allowing eight runs, five earned, with three strikeouts. Rookie Tyler Jumper pitched 1.2 innings with no hits allowed, and junior Joe Burris added a stellar effort in the eighth, striking out the side in order. 

The Captains now trail Salisbury University by one game in the league standings, with a head-to-head matchup looming on the schedule, set for Wednesday, April 12 in Maryland. After the bout with the Sea Gulls, CNU will close the regular season at home next Saturday, April 15 against Penn State Harrisburg.