NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Putting on a clinic while starring in nearly every facet of the sport, Ayden Stuffel flashed a well-balanced skill set and helped the 18th-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team complete a three-game sweep of Penn State Harrisburg with a 15-9 triumph on a cloudy Sunday afternoon at Captains Park.

Against the Lions, Stuffel reached safely in each of his six plate appearances after going 3-for-3 with three walks. Showing off his versatility, he beat out a bunt single and laced a pair of rockets, including a base knock that drove in two runs in the fourth. He also scored twice to fill out his offensive ledger.

Meanwhile, the first-year standout added a steal on the base paths and flashed an absolute cannon from his perch in right field while gunning down a runner at the plate in the sixth.

Along with Stuffel, Justin Bowers had two hits and three RBI, including his 19th career home run, which moved him into a tie for 10th on the program's career charts with former legends Tab Pabst and Rob Robinson. Josh Reinhold and Sam Benedict also chipped in with two hits apiece and helped anchor an offense that plated at least one run in each of the first seven innings on Sunday.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 15-5 on the season, while the setback dropped Penn State Harrisburg to 7-5.

Although the Lions scored a pair of runs in the top of the first, Zach Dzarnowski responded with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame. Then, in the second, the Captains took control.

Opening the action, Benedict, Stuffel, and Alec Reilly all worked walks to load the bases. After Stuffel scored on a wild pitch, Scott Crosson landed the big blow with a screaming two-run double down the right field line. Following two more walks, Crosson eventually came around on another wild pitch for the squad's fourth run of the inning.

Holding a 6-2 edge, Brandon Cassedy settled in on the mound. He escaped a minor jam in the second before striking out a pair of batters in the third. Later, he added two more punch outs in the fourth before Bowers ended the inning with a leaping, out-stretched snag on a hot shot to first base.

Meanwhile, the offense continued to hammer away at the Lions. After Reinhold smashed an RBI single to left in the third, the Captains added another four-spot in the fourth. Kicking things off, Jake Benedict tattooed the opposing shortstop with a base knock that drove in a run after the ball spun into centerfield. Three batters later, Stuffel knocked in a pair with a rip to right before Justin Liakos came charging home on Penn State Harrisburg's fifth wild pitch of the contest.

Keeping up the entertainment in the middle innings, Bowers landed two huge hits. In the fifth, mere moments after the crowd was riled up by a well-timed rendition of Frankie Yankovic's "Pennsylvania Polka," Bowers poked a Penn State pitch into the grass behind the left field fence for his fifth bomb of the year. Then, one inning later, he yanked an RBI double down the left field line, which handed the hosts a 13-3 lead entering the seventh.

While Bowers was bombing away at the dish, Stuffel continued his masterpiece in the field. With runners at the corners and only one out in the top of the sixth, a Lion lofted a long fly ball to right field. Settling underneath it, Stuffel made the catch as the runner on third tagged up and headed home.

Stepping into his throw, the freshman phenom unleashed a laser to the plate. Without a single hop, his throw buried itself into the mitt of Dzarnowski, who slapped the tag on the runner to complete the highlight-reel 9-2 double play.

Although the visitors managed to scratch out six runs in the top of the seventh, Christopher Newport never let them get any closer. Piecing together a response, Eric Wilson answered with a sacrifice fly before Drew Caroline capped off the scoring with a single to center.

After that point, Kyle Lewis took over on the hill. Cutting right through the Penn State Harrisburg lineup, he struck out a pair in the eighth before working a perfect 1-2-3 ninth to close out the 15-9 victory.

In the end, Cassedy earned the win after scattering three runs while striking out six over five innings of work. 

Christopher Newport will return to action on Tuesday when the squad travels to Hampden-Sydney for a 3 p.m. battle.

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