NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Moving into the D3baseball.com National Rankings for the first time this season, the Christopher Newport baseball team is now ranked No. 24 in the country according to the national media poll. The Captains (18-6) are set to host Methodist University at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, April 6 in their next game at Captains Park.
It is the first time that Christopher Newport has been featured in the D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25 since Week 12 of the 2019 season when the Captains were the top-ranked team in the nation. CNU checks into the regular season poll in Week 6 after posting an 18-6 overall record this season including a win against current No. 1 Marietta and two games on the schedule this week against No. 5 Lynchburg.
Through games on April 4, the Captains rank second nationally in strikeouts per nine innings and 12th in strikeout-to-walk ratio. The CNU pitching staff ranks 13th in team ERA (3.26) and in the top-40 in hits allowed per nine and WHIP.
Leading the staff has been reliever
Daniel Elliott, ranking third nationally in K/BB ratio (21.0), and starter
Jay Cassady, ranking second in the country in total strikeouts (71). With
Dylan Weber, the trio of leading arms for the Captains all rank in the top-40 nationally in strikeouts per nine innings with rates over 13 for the season.
Offensively,
Justin Bowers continues to lead a potent lineup by ranking eighth nationally in slugging percentage (.915) and 18th in home runs (8). The junior transfer has scored a team-high 25 runs while driving in a team-high 27 for the season -- he is also hitting .394 to rank second on the team behind only Elliott. The sophomore second baseman is hitting at a .403 clip for the Captains with 27 hits in 67 at-bats.
Senior outfielder
Conner Clark has moved up to fourth all-time in career hits with 221. Bearing down on the all-time leader, Jordan Mason (231), Clark eyes Billy Steel (223) and Matt Turner (225) next on the list. He also ranks second all-time in career runs scored with 189, trailing only Turner's record 201.
Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday as they host long-time rival Methodist University at 3:00 pm. The Captains and Monarchs will be facing off for the 94th time in the all-time history but for the first time since the 2018 season. CNU has won seven of the last ten games against Methodist dating back through the end of the 2012 season.
This season, Methodist is 17-9 overall with wins in five of their last six games. The Monarchs are led by Spencer Nelson and Jacob Austin at the plate. Nelson is hitting .422 with 8 HR and 39 RBI while Austin has walked 21 times in 26 games and is hitting .409 with 44 runs scored. On the mound, Ryan Hill is 7-0 with a 3.00 ERA to lead the Monarchs in eight starts this season.
Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com. Following Wednesday's matchup, the Captains will welcome in No. 5 Lynchburg for a single game on Saturday, April 9 at 1:00 pm before traveling to Lynchburg on Sunday, April 10 for a 2:00 pm first pitch.
