HARRISONBURG, Pa. -- Setting a program record for the most wins to open a season, the 3rd-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team got a masterful pitching appearance from junior Tyler Jumper (2-0) and belted out 19 more hits in a 15-8 win at Eastern Mennonite. The Captains improved to 9-0 with the victory, besting the 2016 season for the best start in program lore. 

Playing just hours after learning the team had picked up it's highest national ranking since 2012, the Captains celebrated with another complete effort on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Captains scored 15 runs, marking the seventh double-figure scoring performance already this season, on a season-high 19 hits. On the mound, Jumper led a trio of bullpen arms that combined for 7.2 innings of shutout baseball, allowing just one hit. 

CNU went to the bullpen in the second inning and called on Jumper, who put together a career-best performance to earn the win. The junior right-hander pitched more than three innings in an appearance for the first time in his career when he completed 5.2 one-hit innings of relief on Tuesday afternoon. He started his day with a pair of strikeouts to end the second inning and then gave up just up just two baserunners over the next five innings. Jumper retired 12 straight batters at one point and 14 of his last 15 faced to get the Captains through the seventh inning. 

In the eighth, junior lefty Brian Owens stepped in and promptly retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts. Then, in the Royals last at-bat during the bottom of the 9th, the Captains turned to junior Andrew Suppa for a 1-2-3 final frame with a strikeout, foul out, and pop fly to close out the win. In total, a single and a walk were the only baserunners allowed by the three relievers while facing 25 batters. 

On the other side of the ball, the Captains scored nine runs in the first three innings to take a 9-8 lead and then added six more runs in the final three frames to pull away from the home team. Eastern Mennonite scored twice in the bottom of the first before CNU put together a seven-run second inning. The Royals teetered back in front with a six-run second, but the Captains pulled back ahead in the next half-inning with two more runs. 

Nick DiNapoli got things started as part of a terrific performance for the senior shortstop when he singled to right field to lead off the second inning. It was the first of four hits for DiNapoli, who drove in three and scored twice to lead the Captains offense. Trey Hicks moved up DiNapoli with a base-hit bunt and then the two moved into scoring position courtesy of a sacrifice bunt by Eric O'Brien. Austin Henry singled home a run and Jordan Mason followed with an RBI double before Conner Clark reached via hit-by-pitch. Two batters later, John Anderson and Nicholas Baham smashed back-to-back doubles to plate three more runs before DiNapoli singled for the second time in the inning to drive in Baham. 

After the Royals re-took the lead, 7-6, in the bottom of the second, Henry kicked things off again in the third with a double down the left field line. Mason walked and Clark singled into right field to plate Henry before Woodard delivered the go-ahead run with a groundball to the left side. 

After the initial burst offensively, both bullpens made it through the middle innings unscathed. In the seventh, CNU struck again courtesy of wild pitching, scoring twice without needing a hit. Mason, Clark and Woodard all reached with free passes and a wild pitch saw Mason race home for a run. Then, Anderson and Baham walked to plate another run for the Captains in the inning. In the eighth, O'Brien scored on an RBI single to center field by Clark, who continues to drive in runs ranking second on the team with 12 RBI this season. 

DiNapoli capped his stellar performance with a two-run double in the ninth, and Joseph Cutchins added an RBI single to center to round out the 15-run performance for CNU. DiNapoli was 4-for-6 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Five Captains finished with multiple hits including Clark, going 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs and two RBI. 

The Captains will return to action on Thursday afternoon, taking on Hampden-Sydney College at 1:00 pm. The early first pitch at Captains Park will also be presented in a live video webcast and with live stats for those who can not be in attendance.