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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Ryan Grubbs paced a potent offensive attack, while Josh Husby pieced together an incredible run on the mound as the 13th-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team stormed past Ferrum, 16-1, in the season opener on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Captains Park.
 
Leading the lineup, Grubbs pounded out four hits and knocked in six runs, while four other Captains added multi-hit outings. Jordan Mason was especially productive at the top of the order with two hits and three RBI, while Nick DiNapoli scored three times. John Anderson and Trey Hicks also had a pair of hits to balance out the lethal assault.
 
Overall, the squad's 16 runs marked the most by the Captains in a season opener since the 2013 squad also dropped 16 runs on Hampden-Sydney during a 16-5 triumph on February 4, 2013.
 
Meanwhile, on the mound, Husby silenced the Ferrum attack. Over five innings of work, the sophomore struck out 10 while scattering just three hits. His 10 strikeouts marked a career-high, topping the nine he posted during seven innings of work against Mary Washington last year.
 
Although Ferrum managed to open the scoring in the top of the second, Christopher Newport scratched out a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Taking advantage of some wildness, Nicholas Baham was hit by a pitch before DiNapoli worked a walk. Following a bunt by Hicks to move the runners into scoring position, Grubbs flared a shot to short right, which dropped into open spaces for a two-run single.
 
As it turned out, the one-run lead was all Husby needed.
 
Making quick work of the Panthers, Husby had the opposition flailing. After striking out five in the first two innings, he sent four more batters down swinging in the third and fourth. Later, in his final frame, he added the perfect punctuation mark to his 2019 debut with his 10th strikeout to cap off the fifth.
 
On the offensive side, the Captains never lost their rhythm. DiNapoli led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple to the gap in right center before Hicks plated him with a double to left. Two batters later, Austin Henry legged out an infield single, while Hicks raced home following a throwing error to snatch a 4-1 edge.
 
After gaining some breathing room in the fourth, CNU blew the game open in the fifth.  Seth Woodard kicked off the frame with a walk before scoring all the way from first on a single by Anderson that dropped just inside the leftfield line. Later, after an RBI single by Grubbs, the Captains loaded the bases with two outs for Mason. Capitalizing on the situation, the senior turned on a 3-1 offering and cleared the bags with a three-run triple to right center.
 
Holding a 9-1 lead, Christopher Newport continued its onslaught. In the sixth, the hosts loaded the bases again before Joseph Cutchins knocked in the first run with a hot shot to short. Later, Grubbs cracked an RBI double and Henry lofted a sacrifice fly to right, which gave the squad a 12-1 edge.
 
Rounding out the scoring in the seventh, Baham lined a sacrifice fly to center, Cutchins popped an RBI double to left, and Grubbs capped off his afternoon with a two-run single to snatch a 15-run advantage.
 
While the offense was doing its job, the bullpen was equally impressive. After Husby handed the ball off, Teddy Herbert, Corey Williams, Austin Slough, and Andrew Suppa each worked a spotless frame. The four relievers combined for six strikeouts while allowing just two hits to quiet Ferrum's lineup over the final four innings.
 
Overall, every Captain starter had at least one hit in the game, while 10 different players crossed the plate. Along with DiNapoli's three runs, Woodard, Baham, Hicks, and Cutchins all scored twice.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Sunday when the squad wraps up a short two-game series with Ferrum at 1 p.m.
 
---CNU---