2021 CNU Outdoor Spectator Policy  ||  Live Stats  ||  Live Video

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In the first release of Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Weekly Awards for the 2020-21 spring season, Christopher Newport swept the baseball announcement with senior Eric O'Brien being tabbed Player of the Week and rookie Matt Gaither garnering Pitcher of the Week honors. The honors come as the Captains prepare to take on Hampden-Sydney College on Tuesday, March 9 at 2:00 p.m. with a newly revised spectator policy in effect. 

O'Brien helped the lead the Captains to a 3-1 start to the season by picking up at least one hit in each of the first four games. On Sunday against Virginia Wesleyan, the senior backstop fell just a home run shy of the cycle by going 3-for-4 with a single, double, and triple against the Marlins. He drove in three runs and has scored three times while hitting .438 (7-16) to start the year. 

The Sandy Spring, Maryland native leads the Captains with 10 total bases and is slugging .625 with an on-base percentage of .500 so far this year. He's also managed a pitching staff that has 42 strikeouts in 35.0 innings of work and has thrown out one would-be base stealer in the first four games. 

One of those pitchers is this week's C2C Pitcher of the Week after the first collegiate action of his career, Matt Gaither. The rookie from Midlothian, Virginia has impressed in his early debut, facing the minimum number of batters in 3.1 innings of work. He has yet to allow a hit and has only given up one base runner, whom he promptly retired caught stealing with a wicked pick off move.

Gaither has struck out six batters and earned his first career win with 2.0 strong innings against Virginia Wesleyan this weekend. The freshman struck out the side in the seventh after a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth with another strikeout. 

The two honored Captains will be back in action with the rest of the squad on Tuesday as they welcome Hampden-Sydney College for the second matchup against the Tigers this season. Last week, Christopher Newport suffered a 3-1 loss on the road to H-SC, despite a strong start from senior Josh Husby on the hill. Husby struck out four in six innings of work, allowing just one run on three hits in the road start. 

Looking to avenge that setback, the Captains will turn to a pitching staff that has rebounded with back-to-back double-digit strikeout performances. In game one this weekend, CNU struck out 13, and in the second game, the pitching staff saw 16 Marlins go down on strikes. For the year, the team has a 3.60 ERA with seven arms boasting an individual earned-run average at that mark or better. 

Offensively, O'Brien has steadied the middle of the order with sophomore second baseman Ethan Weaver leading the team in average with a .444 mark. The second-year at the keystone has already walked five times in four games to pair with four hits for a .643 on-base percentage. He also has two extra-base hits while scoring a team-high six runs with a pair of RBI. 

Senior outfielder Conner Clark has also started the season off on the right foot, hitting .357 with two stolen bases and three sacrifice bunts. Like Weaver and O'Brien, junior Michael Martorano also has two extra-base hits while hitting .333 to round out the top four offensive weapons so far for Christopher Newport. 

Director of Athletics Kyle McMullin announced a change in the department spectator policy for the spring on Monday, March 8, allowing a limited number of fans to attend games at home events this year. The policy, which is available at the top of this page as well as permanently linked on the "Athletic Department" menu at CNUsports.com, states that each player and coach will be allowed two (2) fans per game and CNU students with a valid ID will also be permitted to attend. Please review the policy for a full list of guidelines for those permitted to attend. 

Fans will also be able to tune into a live video webcast for all home games this year for the baseball Captains with live stats also accessible. Links to both can be found at the top of this page as well as on the baseball schedule at CNUsports.com.