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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Facing a one-out, bases loaded situation in the seventh inning, the Captains led by one when they called on senior closer Joe Burris to get out of the jam. Burris induced an inning-ending double play and struck out four in the final two innings to pick up the save in a 6-5 win over Hampden-Sydney College (5-3) on Wednesday morning. 

The 22nd-ranked Captains improved to 11-4 with the thrilling win over the Tigers, which came after building a lead with at least one run in five of the first six innings. 

Hampden-Sydney scored twice in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of three straight walks to open the inning. After reliever Brian Owens struck out one to get the first out, he gve up a two-run double and hit the next batter he faced to set up the one-out, bases juiced situation. On the first pitch that Burris threw, the Tigers tried to squeeze in a run, but the bunt popped into the air for Burris, who then doubled off the runner at third to end the inning. 

He worked through the eighth and ninth for the longest save of his career, a 2.2 inning shutout performance, to earn his second of the season. He allowed one hit and struck out four. 

The door-slamming performance by Burris was set up by a strong start by sophomore Thomas Packert (3-0). Dealing from the start, the right-hander struck out six of the first seven batters he faced. He finished a 5-inning effort with a career-high-tying 10 strikeouts with six hits and three runs allowed. 

Offensively, CNU would get the eventual game-winning run off the bat of Jordan Mason, who smoked a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. It was his first round-tripper of the year. It was also the first home run of his career since his collegiate debut on February 11, 2016, a span of 90 games. 

The offense started in the first inning when Seth Woodard singled, extending his season-opening win streak to 15 games. He would advance on a wild pitch and score on a single by Brandon Ginch. In the second, CNU scored twice more, when Mason sacrificed home Craig Johnson and Woodard earned a bases loaded walk for his first RBI of the day. 

Another sacrifice fly in the third came off of Brandon Walker's bat, scoring Johnson again. Woodard added another RBI single in the fourth  and, after the scoreless fifth inning, Mason struck for his home run with a full count off of reliever Hayden Basse. 

Woodard finished 4-for-4 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored, while adding a walk to reach in all five of his plate appearances. Mason was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored and a walk, while Nick DiNapoli also registered a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. 

The CNU pitching staff struck out 16 batters between Packert, Owens, and Burris in the win. 

Christopher Newport will return to action on Thursday, March 8 at Noon against Penn State-Berks.