NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Fans will want to mind Daylight Saving Time this year as the Christopher Newport baseball team sets to play nationally-ranked Randolph-Macon College (3-2) on Sunday afternoon at Captains Park. While the hour shifts forward, first pitch will be thrown at 2:00 p.m. as the Captains (5-2) look to bounce back against one of the top teams in the nation. 

Christopher Newport will be taking on it's second straight nationally-ranked opponent as Macon enters the contest tabbed No. 11 in the most recent D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25. The Captains were just on the outside of the rankings, receiving votes, in this week's tabulation. 

Despite the limited number of games played, the two already have a common opponent as Randolph-Macon dropped two of three in a season-opening series to North Carolina Wesleyan, and the Captains just dropped their first matchup with the Bishops, 6-3, on Friday afternoon. R-MC rebounded with two wins against Washington & Lee on Saturday. 

In one of the longest active series for Christopher Newport baseball, the Captains and Yellow Jackets are locked in a draw over 56 matchups. With the series locked at 28 wins apiece, the Captains owns a slight 14-11 advantage in games played in Newport News. The two teams have been facing off since the 1986 season with just four years off in the matchup. 

Macon, who was one of the top teams in the nation before COVID-19 ended the 2020 season, returned the bulk of it's top-ranked offense and the Yellow Jackets are off to a red-hot start this year. R-MC has scored 44 runs in the first five games with six seniors starting in the Jackets lineup. One of those six, Jacob Selden, leads thet eam with a .429 average while another, Reece Yergain, is hitting .357 with 5 RBI, a home run, and 5 runs scored. Mike and Shawn Nickes have each added a home run for the senior class while a fifth fourth-year player, Kevin Mooney, has also gone yard. 

On the mound, the third Nickles brother leads the way as Matt Nickles has a 1-1 record with a 2.89 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 9.1 innings pitched. Senior Zack Radcliffeis 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA with two long relief appearances so far. 

The visitors will have to combat a Captains pitching staff that has struck out 68 batters in 62.0 innings of work so far this season, boasting a 3.77 team ERA. Josh Husby (1-0, 1.38 ERA) leads the Captains with 10 strikeouts in 13.0 innings of work while the bullpen has been strong behind their senior ace. Upperclass relief arms in Nathan Clements and Gray Goodrich have yet to allow a run in six combined appearances while rookies Colby Shriner and Matt Gaither have been exceptioanl to start their career. Shriner boasts a 1.50 ERA in 6.0 innings of work while Gaither is 2-0 with a save and a 1.69 ERA in 5.1 innings of relief. 

Offensively, freshman Kyle Schofield smashed his first career home run on Friday against the Bishops and now leads the team with a .400 average and 5 RBI. Sophomore Ethan Weaver is hitting .389 with a team-high seven runs scored while veterans Eric O'Brien and Conner Clark are also hitting .370 and .348, respectively. 

Sunday's game will be open to a limited number of spectators as outlined by the Captains Outdoor Spectator Policy. For fans unable to attend, live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com.