NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In the first of two showdowns between nationally-ranked programs in Virginia this weekend, the 7th-ranked University of Lynchburg defeated 15th-ranked Christopher Newport, 9-4. Michael Martorano's seventh-inning grand slam served as a highlight for the Captains (19-7) on a cloudy Saturday afternoon at Captains Park. 

With the win, Lynchburg improved to 22-5 overall as the Hornets were able to build an early lead and hold off a comeback bid by the Captains. 

Off to a slow start offensively, the Hornets gained momentum in the top of the third inning with three hits back-to-back. A double by Avery Neaves extended an inning that looked destined to be over before any damage, but the ball got caught in the sun and allowed a routine fly ball to fall harmlessly to the outfield grass for an RBI knock. PJ Alvanos and Gavin Collins followed with two more hits to take a 4-0 lead after the hard-lock moment for CNU starter Dylan Weber (3-2). 

Lynchburg tacked on three more runs over the next three innings with an RBI single by Holden Fiedler in the fifth and a two-run homer by Neaves in the sixth. 

Down 7-0, the Captains struggled offensively until the bottom of the seventh inning. The game took a promising turn for the Captains when senior Michael Martorano drilled a grand slam over the center field wall, sending Kevin Mackmin, Alec Reilly, and Daniel Elliott trotting home. Elliott led off the inning with a double to right center field and Reilly reached on a hit-by-pitch. Looking to move up the runners, Mackmin laid down a bunt, but the perfectly placed tapper was good enough for a base hit to load the bases for Martorano. The senior wasted little time in blasting his second homer of the season by connecting on an 0-1 pitch to dead center field. 

A pitching change ended the Captains' threat in the seventh after the grand slam and it wasn't until the top of the ninth where Lynchburg would add their final two runs after a bang-bang play at third was called in favor of the Hornets. After Kyle Lewis retired the first two batters, Collins lofted a fly ball to center field -- for the second time in the game the ball was lost in the white cloudy skies and fell to the earth. This time, however, Conner Clark quickly recovered and threw it in to Elliott, serving as the relay man. Eliott completed the play with a dart to third just as Collins dove headfirst into the base, but the Hornets shortstop snuck in around the tag. 

The Hornets maintained their offensive momentum with a double by Fiedler, driving in both Collins and Cameron Lane, who had previously been walked during his at-bat. 

Lychburg's closer, Grayson Thurman, wrapped up the game with two strikeouts and a groundball back to the mound in the final CNU at-bat. Saddled with the loss, the Captains' left-handed starter Weber allowed six hits and five runs over five innings. Junior Danny Checkosky allowed two hits and two runs while striking out a pair in relief before Lewis closed out the final three frames with three runs and three strikeouts. 

Offensively, the Captains struggled to find footing against the Lynchburg pitching staff all day. Sophomore Daniel Elliott was a bright spot for CNU, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Justin Bowers was a hard-luck 0-for-4 in the game despite good at-bats. Bowers was retired on a slow roller that he thought he had beat out at first in a close play and also ripped a hard shot that would have been extra bases were it not for a highlight-reel diving play by the first baseman. Mackin, Martorano, and Drew Caroline each finished the day with one hit apiece. 

Christopher Newport will look to learn from this game as they travel to Lynchburg, Va. on Sunday morning to complete their home-and-home series with the Hornets. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm at James C. Fox Field.