NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport baseball team jumped out to an early lead, but Randolph-Macon battled back in the middle innings and stole a 9-5 victory during a non-conference showdown on a chilly Thursday afternoon at Captains Park.
 
Against the Yellow Jackets, Daniel Elliott laced two hits and knocked in a pair of runs, while Justin Bowers reached base safely in each of his five plate appearances. The junior leftfielder drew four walks and pumped a double. His four free passes equaled the third-highest single-game total in program history.
 
Overall, six different Captains recorded at least one hit, including a key two-run single by Kyle Schofield, which gave the hosts an early advantage in the bottom of the first.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 10-5 on the season, while the victory bumps Randolph-Macon to 9-2.
 
After the Yellow Jackets tossed a pair of runs on the board in the top of the first, the Captains immediately retaliated. Conner Clark kicked off the bottom of the inning with an infield single. Later, after Bowers drew a one-out walk, Elliott turned on a pitch and ripped a double down the rightfield line, which plated the first run. Two batters later, Schofield dropped a two-run single into short rightfield, which gave the hosts a 3-2 edge.
 
Holding a one-run lead, Dylan Weber went to work on the mound. The third-year southpaw found his groove and retired eight of the next nine batters, including back-to-back strikeouts in the fourth. Unfortunately, the RMC lineup eventually caught fire in the middle innings and scored six straight runs to snatch an 8-3 advantage.
 
Looking to steal back a little momentum, David Gingras came in and worked a scoreless seventh, including a pair of strikeouts. Then, in the bottom of the frame, the Captains chipped away at the deficit. Scott Crosson kicked off the rally with a double before Bowers earned another free pass. Three pitches later, Elliott blasted a 1-1 offering just inside the leftfield line, which brought home Crosson for the squad's fourth run.
 
Although Macon responded with another run in the eighth, Christopher Newport fired back again. This time, Drew Caroline and Jonathan Fisher worked walks before Clark was plunked by a pitch. With the bases loaded, Crosson launched a sacrifice fly to right, which pulled the Captains back within four.
 
Sadly, that was as close as Christopher Newport would come. Although Jay Cassady beat out an infield single in the ninth, the Randolph-Macon bullpen held up and closed out the 9-5 victory.
 
Weber took the loss after scattering six runs over 4.1 innings of work. Meanwhile, Jacob Smither earned the victory for Macon with three solid innings of relief, while Wyatt Stanley picked up a five-out save.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday when the Captains host Penn State Harrisburg in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
 
---ISH---