NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Making his first collegiate start in the 2020 home opener for nationally-ranked Christopher Newport, rookie Connor Pennell (0-0) tossed five shutout innings to help lead the Captains to a 9-4 win over Piedmont College (0-2). Pennell struck out six and scattered five hits in his debut as Christopher Newport improved to 2-1 on the season. 

The first two and the final two outs of the day for Pennell came via the strikeout as the rookie right-hander looked sharp on the home mound at Captains Park. He allowed just one runner to advance beyond second base in the game and started a key inning-ending double play in the third, pitcher to catcher to first base. Pennell finished the outing with a no decision after leaving the game with a 1-0 lead that was relinquished in the top of the sixth. 

The Christopher Newport offense batted around in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead with a six-run inning. Senior right fielder Trey Hicks walked to start the inning before back-to-back sacrifice bunts, including one that allowed Andrew Suppa to reach on an error, put two runners in scoring position for freshman Alec Reilly. Reilly led the team in the opening weekend with 6 RBI and added his seventh with a tailing fly ball into left field that was good enough to plate Hicks for a sacrifice fly. After taking a 2-1 lead on the go-ahead plate appearance by Reilly, the Captains offense opened things up with five straight hits. 

Senior Evan Baer started the run with an RBI single into center field and freshman Samuel Essex added a single to right field. Freshman Ethan Weaver then blistered a line drive off the left field wall for an RBI double. With runners on second and third, Conner Clark placed a beautiful bunt down the third base line to plate another run and pick up his third hit of the day. Rounding out the streak of base hits was freshman Jonathan Fisher, singling in a pair with a shot into right center field. 

The six-run inning was plenty for the Captains pitching staff, who would give up a single run in the seventh and two more in the ninth. Junior Gray Goodrich (1-0) earned the win in relief, striking out one in two batters faced. Tyler Jumper and rookie Aidan Henning also picked up a strikeout in one inning each before senior Brian Owens came on and struck out the side in the top of the ninth. 

Offensively, Clark highlighted the Captains balanced attack as seven different players combined for nine hits. Clark was 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored, 1 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. Hicks was 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and a run scored. 

Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday at approximately 1:00 p.m. against Roanoke College (2-1). The Maroons will play against Piedmont at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday in a neutral site contest.