NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Locked in a 3-3 tie after six innings, the Christopher Newport offense broke open a tight game with Ferrum College (0-2) with five runs in the bottom of the seventh and two more in the eighth inning to pull away for a 10-4 win on Sunday afternoon. Senior Austin Slough (1-0) got the win in relief and the 1-2-3 batters in the Captains' lineup finished with multi-hit games. 

All nine batters reached base for the Captains, who improved to 2-0 with a weekend series sweep against their former conference foes. Seth Woodard led the offense with a 2-for-4 performance with 3 RBI and a walk, while Jordan Mason (2-for-4, 2 R), and Conner Clark (2-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 R) also added multi-hit efforts. 

In the bottom of the 7th, Christopher Newport batted around, plating five runs on three hits while facing three different pitchers in the inning. First, against reliever Drew Calohan (0-1) who came in to pitch in the 5th inning, the Captains earned a leadoff walk from Nick DiNapoli and a one-out single by Eric O'Brien. The Panthers then turned to reliever Mitch Custer, who walked the bases loaded when he issued Austin Henry a free pass, and then plated the go-ahead run on a wild pitch to the next batter. 

With a 4-3 lead, the top of the order came through with a walk by Mason, RBI single from Clark, and a two-run single into right center by Woodard. Senior designated hitter John Anderson capped the five-run inning with an RBI groundout. 

Ferrum started the scoring in the game with a manufactured run in the top of the second as Tim Ortega led off with a walk and came around to score the game's first run after a single, sacrifice bunt, and groundball. The Captains knotted the game at one run apiece in the bottom of the third when Mason doubled with two outs and came in to score on an infield single combined with an error. 

The Panthers responded quickly with two in the next half inning, re-taking the lead, 3-1, but CNU answered right back with two to tie in the bottom of the fourth. The Captains runs came on an exciting play with two outs. Anderson led off with a single before the Captains' next two batters were retired. Trey Hicks stepped in and doubled to left center and Anderson lumbered around the bases to score all the way from first. As the Panthers threw the ball in from the outfield wall, Hicks raced to third and was able to sprint home on an errant throw by the catcher. 

With the game tied at 3-3, both pitching staffs sailed through the next two and a half innings unharmed until the bottom of the 7th when CNU took control. 

Christopher Newport senior Austin Slough picked up the win after pitching a clean 7th inning with a strikeout and double-play to end the frame. He also tossed the 8th, giving up a single run to cap his first win of the year with 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO. Starting the game, Gray Goodrich left with a no decision after striking out three and allowing three runs, one earned, over 5.0 innings of work. Tyler Jumper pitched a shutout frame in the sixth and Andrew Suppa wrapped up the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning to close out the win. 

The Captains open the season 2-0 and will hit the road for the next three games in Georgia. First, CNU will take on Oglethorpe University on Friday, February 15 at 7:00 pm, followed by a neutral field matchup at Piedmont College as CNU takes on Millsaps on Saturday, February 16 at 2:00 pm. The third game of the weekend will be played at Emory on Sunday, February 17 at 2:00 pm.