NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport senior Alec Reilly blasted a pair of home runs and the pitching staff combined to allow just two hits while striking out 16 as the Captains opened the 2023 season with a 5-1 win over Eastern Mennonite on Wednesday afternoon. Dylan Weber (1-0) led the way on the mound, striking out 10 while allowing just one run on two hits in the first start of the year. 

Reilly wasted little time kicking off his senior season with a bang, stepping in with one on and two out in the bottom of the first inning. After Justin Bowers walked in front of him, Reilly smashed an opposite-field dinger over the left field wall for what would hold up as the game-winning smack. He wasn't finished, adding a monstrous solo blast to deep center field in the bottom of the fourth, a walk and run scored in the sixth, and a double down the left field line in his final plate appearance. 

While Reilly supplied the fireworks at the plate, the pitching staff quietly put together a dominant overall effort on the mound. After Weber, three CNU relievers combined for four no-hit innings while striking out six batters. Danny Checkosky struck out a pair in two innings of work before Kyle Lewis struck out one in the eighth. Finally, Daniel Elliott punched out the side in order to close out the win in the ninth. 

Overall, the four arms combined to allow just one run on two singles in the game. One was lofted just over the outstretched arms of the shortstop and the other came on a grounder to the hole kept on the infield by a sensational diving play from rookie Josh Reinhold. Only five balls were put into the air all day against the Captains' pitching staff as they paired five ground-ball outs with a pick-off by Weber and 16 combined strikeouts. The team effort ties for the fifth most strikeouts by CNU in Captains Park history. 

Reilly highlighted the impressive victory, going 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI and reached base in all four plate appearances. Rookie Brandon Cassedy laid down a picture-perfect bunt for his first career hit and finished the game 2-for-3 with one free pass. Jake Benedict, another newcomer, also had a strong first game going 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base. 

Christopher Newport improved to 1-0 while Eastern Mennonite slipped to 0-3 on the year. CNU won it's sixth straight home opener and improved to 20-3 all-time in home openers under head coach John Harvell

The Captains will return to action on Thursday, February 16 as they play host to Marymount University at 2:00 p.m. Another schedule note was announced by Harvell as Saturday's doubleheader against SUNY New Paltz was originally scheduled for 12:00 p.m. but will now begin at 11:00 a.m.