NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- During a doubleheader split against York (Pa.) on Saturday afternoon, Christopher Newport senior Nicholas Baham made history twice over with an unprecedented power display as the first baseman blasted four home runs in the twin bill. The first player in program history to hit four home runs in a single day used the fourth smash to break the single season home run record at CNU set by Matt Turner in 2003. The Captains won the first game against the Spartans, 7-3, before suffering a 14-10 setback in the second game of the doubleheader. 

With the split, CNU secured the number two seed in the 2019 Capital Athletic Conference Baseball Championship and will host an opening round pod next weekend. Game times and ticket information will be announced after the rest of the postseason seeding is determined this week. CNU's record ran to 29-5, 16-3 while York improved to 25-11, 14-6. 

Baham's historic performance included one homer in the first game and a CNU record-tying three in game two. He is the sixth player in CNU history to hit three home runs in a single game and the first first since A.J. Nicely accomplished the feat against Wesley on March 15, 2014. Coming into Saturday's action with 14 round-trippers this season, only Turner lay in front of him in the CNU record books with a 17-HR and 15-HR season on his ledger. Baham, also the national leader in home runs this season, set the new program mark with a go-ahead solo smack in the 7th inning that left the park over the left field wall. Bookending a terrific all-around day, his first homer of the day also set a new Capital Athletic Conference record for the most HR in a single season with 15. He added to the new standard as the day went on. 

All three of the seniors home runs gave the Captains the lead in game two. Prior to the record-breaker, Baham delivered an absolute missile to deep center field that left the yard in a hurry for a two-run shot in the bottom of the third. That dinger also broke a tie in the game, making it 4-2. In his first at-bat of the game, he made it back-to-back solo jacks with Nick DiNapoli in the bottom of the first, putting CNU ahead 2-1. 

Despite Baham's efforts putting CNU ahead in game two, the Spartans rallied to tie the game in the top of the 8th on a wild bases loaded wild pitch and then pulled ahead with a grand slam in the top of the 9th. In the game, Baham was 4-for-4 with an intentional walk and 4 RBI with 3 runs scored. 

While York stole the second half of the doubleheader, the Captains got a strong pitching performance from Joshy Husby (8-1) and timely hitting to pick up the game one win, clinching one of the league's top two bids and earning hosting duties. Husby allowed just three runs over 7.0 innings of work while striking out seven to pick up his eighth win of the year. The sophomore right-hander faced only three batters more than the minimum through his first five innings of work as he diced up the York offense. The Captains staked their sophomore starter with an early 3-run lead and, when that was erased by a three-run sixth, the offense rallied in the bottom of the 7th with four more runs to ensure Husby's victory. Out of the pen, Tyler Jumper and Brian Owens combined for just one hit to close out the four-run conference victory. 

Offensively in game one, it was the top of the order that did the bulk of the damage. In the first inning, Conner Clark led off with a base hit bunt and then raced home on an RBI double by Seth Woodard. Nick DiNapoli followed with an RBI single for the second run. After Jordan Mason singled, Ryan Grubbs was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Eric O'Brien, who walked in the third run of the inning. In the seventh, Joseph Cutchins led things off with a double and moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt by Clark. Woodard gave the Captains the lead on a ripped double into the left field corner before DiNapoli and Baham went back-to-back with a pair of no-doubt homers. 

For the day, DiNapoli and Baham led all Captains with five hits, going 5-for-9. DiNapoli added a pair of home runs, 4 RBI and 4 runs scored. Woodard and Cutchins each put four hits on the board in the two games combined while Mason and Clark had three apiece. 

The Captains and Spartans will return to action on Sunday to close out the three-game series at 1:00 pm. The game will be Senior Day for 12 CNU players taking the field at Captains Park for the final regular season home game of their careers.