NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport baseball team slipped past Marymount University (0-1) on Thursday afternoon with a timely home run by
Justin Bowers providing the difference in a 6-5 win at Captains Park. Bowers' first blast of the season came in a tie game in the bottom of the 7th and was enough for closer
Daniel Elliott to slam the door with two scoreless frames, striking out four to record his first save of the season.
The Captains took a 4-0 lead in the first inning, jumping on the Marymount starter for four runs on two hits and three walks. Rookie
Ayden Stuffel walked to lead off the inning and then moved around to third after a walk by
Alec Reilly and hit-by-pitch by Bowers.
Kevin Mackmin then delivered the first run of the game with an RBI HBP before
Scott Crosson stepped in and smacked a two-run single into center field. With one out, freshman
Sam Benedict ripped a single through the hole in the left side to plate Crosson for the inning's fourth run.
The offensive burst came after a quick first inning by
Jay Cassady. The junior southpaw was lights out, punching out the first three batters he faced on 15 pitches. Cassady's strong start continued through the lineup as he retired the first nine batters he faced before surrendering a lead-off single in the fourth. On top of his game, Cassady stranded a pair with back-to-back swinging strikeouts to close out the fourth having faced just 14 batters.
Things got a little dicier in the fifth as Marymount took advantage of a pair of CNU errors to get on the board and cut the Captains' lead to one, 4-3. Cassady worked through the trouble with two more strikeouts and a flyball out to center to end the threat with the lead.
In the bottom half of the fifth, the Captains doubled the lead with efficient small ball as Reilly led off with a walk and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mackmin. After a groundball to the right side to move Reilly up to third, the senior raced home on a wild pitch to give the Captains a 5-3 advantage.
The Captains dipped into the bullpen in the sixth where
Jackson Baird worked around a walk and a hit to escape his first collegiate appearance unscathed with one strikeout. In the seventh, Marymount tied the game at five with two runs on two hits and another defensive miscue by the Captains defense.
Kyle Lewis came on to close out the inning and stymied the Saints go-ahead bid by striking out a pair and inducing an inning-ending flyout to Bowers in left field.
The 5-5 tie would set up the clutch bomb by Bowers in the bottom half of the inning. He stepped in to lead off the inning and turned on a 1-1 pitch for a solo shot over the left center field wall to re-take the lead.
CNU then turned to Elliott on the mound in the top of the eighth for a two-inning save. He promptly struck out the first batter he faced on three pitches and the third on five throws. With two outs, the Saints loaded the bases against the dominant Captains closer, but in the big moment, Elliott caught the Marymount hitter looking for his third strikeout of the inning.
In the top of the ninth, Elliott converted his ninth career save with a 1-2-3 inning including another strikeout. In two appearances this season, Elliott has struck out seven batters in nine outs recorded.
Cassady finished the start with a no decision and nine K's in 5.0 innings pitched. He allowed three runs, all unearned, on four hits. Lewis picked up the win for his first of the season. Bowers and Reilly each scored twice while Benedict notched the only multi-hit day for the Captains offense.
Christopher Newport will return to action this weekend as they host SUNY New Paltz for three games including a doubleheader on Saturday, February 18 starting at 11:00 a.m.
