NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport baseball team will look to right the ship after a pair of narrow losses to nationally-ranked competition over the weekend when they host the University of Lynchburg (7-7) on Wednesday afternoon at Captains Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Newport News, as the Captains (5-3) take on the Hornets for just the 11th time in their histories. 

Despite the in-state rivalry lasting nearly six decades in some sports, the baseball teams have had limited interaction. The first meeting came in 1998 and the most recent during a neutral site trip to Fayetteville, N.C. in 2015, where the Captains won 6-5. The all-time series is locked at five wins apiece including a 2-2 mark in games played at home for CNU. The two teams have also met three times in NCAA Regional Tournaments, including in 2012 when Christopher Newport hosted the event and won, 7-1. 

Lynchburg enters the Wednesday afternoon tilt having won five of their last six games after a tough stretch to start the year in February. Christopher Newport won five of the first six before suffering 6-3 and 9-6 losses to No. 24 N.C. Wesleyan and No. 11 Randolph-Macon. 

The Captains have swept the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week awards in both of the first two weeks including Josh Husby and Kyle Schofield garnering the attention this week. Husby is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts this season, striking out 10 in 13.0 innings of work. Schofield has led the offense as the designated hitter is hitting .375 with six RBI and five runs scored. He has also walked seven times for an on-base percentage of .531. 

Joining Schofied at the top of the Captains attack this season has been sophomore Ethan Weaver, hitting .409 with nine hits in 22 at-bats while walking six times. He has led the team in extra-base hits with three doubles and a triple while hitting out of the nine hole this year. Conner Clark is hitting .333 and has continued his climb up the Captains record books by passing 150 career hits in just over 100 games played. Clark currently ranks 6th in career runs scored (139), tied for fifth in sacrifice bunts (19), and third in stolen bases (78). Senior catcher Eric O'Brien leads the team in total hits with 11 and has delivered six RBI and six runs scored. 

In addition to Husby on the mound, the Captains have featured a strong bullpen with Nathan Clements (0-0, 0.00 ERA in three appearances), Matt Gaither (2-0, 1.42 ERA in five appearances), and Gray Goodrich (0-0, 2.25 ERA in four appearances) leading the way. Jack Rosenberg has been a dynamic lefty reliever as well, striking out 11 batters in 5.0 innings of work. 

Lynchburg enters the contest led by a one-man wrecking crew in sophomore Avery Neaves. The second-year player has already accumulated 11 extra-base hits, 19 runs scored, and 21 RBI in just 14 games while hitting .356. Five of those extra-base knocks have left the yard for home runs as Neaves ranks third in the country in total blasts. Junior Garrett Jackson has also been a deep threat, hitting three homers and driving in nine runs while scoring 13 times. 

The Hornets pitching staff has leaned on junior Brandon Pond in four starts with a 3.28 ERA over 24.2 innings of work. He has 28 strikeouts and, despite a 1-3 record, has impressed in each of his four showings this season. Sophomore Zack Potts has started twice and appeared out of the bullpen twice for Lynchburg, boasting a 2-0 record and a 3.20 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 19.2 innings of work. 

The game will be played at Captains Park and the Christopher Newport Outdoor Spectator Policy will be in effect. For fans unable to attend, live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com.