NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After a wild doubleheader that featured 42 runs, 15 pitching appearances and lasted nearly seven hours, the 18th-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team pulled away with a pair of wins, 20-9 in game one and 11-2 in game two. The Captains improved to 14-5 with the twin bill sweep, highlighted by impressive individual performances by Jackson Baird (2-1) on the mound and Sam Benedict at the dish. 

In game one, Benedict drove in six runs and reached base in all six of his plate appearances to lead the Captains' offensive explosion. He is the first freshman to drive in six or more runs since Jon Hurd delivered seven RBI against Southern Virginia on April 7, 2001. 

In the second game, sophomore starter Jackson Baird struck out 13 batters to mark a new season-high for any Christopher Newport pitcher this season. He joins teammates Jay Cassady and Dylan Weber as the only CNU pitchers to strike out 13 or more in a game since 2019. 

The first game of the three-game series this weekend looked like a runaway early for the Captains, building a 9-2 advantage through the first four frames, but a seven-run fifth evened the score for the Lions. Christopher Newport was scoreless for only two innings before bouncing back with a huge rally late, scoring 11 runs in the seventh and eighth innings to pull away for a 20-9 win. 

Things started hot for CNU at the plate, led by junior Scott Crosson who recorded hits in both games to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. In the first inning, Crosson led off with a walk and came around to score on a bases loaded free pass to Benedict, who picked the first of his six RBI. In the second frame, Brandon Cassedy walked and raced home when Crosson doubled to the gap. He then crossed the plate a second time on an RBI single by Josh Reinhold. 

Alec Reilly delivered the fireworks in the third inning when he blasted a home run to right center with Benedict on base, picking up a two-run blast to make the score 7-2. Patience at the plate proved proftable in the fourth wnen Justin Bowers walked to load the bases ahead of Benedict, who again showed a good eye at the plate and picked up another RBI walk. 

Penn State Harrisburg scored seven runs on five hits in the top of the fifth, including a two-run double by Dallas HIte in his second at-bat of the inning to cap the scoring. Despite the come-from-behind attempt, though, the Captains would right the ship in the seventh inning with four runs on four hits. Reilly opened things up with a single and moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Cassedy. After Crosson walked, Zach Dzarnowski drove in the eventual game-winning run with a single into left field. Another walk followed and Bowers stepped in to plate a run with a single through the left side. That would send up Benedict with the bases loaded and the rookie continued his impressive outing with a double into left field, scoring two more. 

The offense kept on clicking into the eighth as CNU scored seven more on four hits. Dzarnowski and Bowers each drove in a run and Benedict delivered his second straight two-run double to keep the line moving. Grant Hartman added an RBI single and Reilly pushed two more across with a single into left field. 

With the game in hand, the Captains bullpen closed out the win with David Gingras earning the victory. Danny Checkosky finished out game one on the mound with four strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched. 

Game two would have a starkly different feel as Baird dominated on the hill for the Captains. Baird faced just one batter over the minimum through the first five innings while racking up the strikeouts. He had a pair of K's in each of the first five innings and, despite giving up his first hit in the top of the sixth, added another punchout in that frame. The Captains had staked their young starter to a 4-1 lead and, after another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh with two more strikeouts, the offense rewarded him with seven more crossing the plate. 

Jake Benedict led off with a single into left center and Bowers followed with a walk. Sam Benedict sacrificed the two over and then Reilly was intentionally walked to load the bases. Ethan Weaver drove in the first of seven runs in the inning with a single through the left side and then freshman Ayden Stuffel walked in a run. Crosson then delivered a bases-clearing double for the big blow but the Captains weren't done, scoring once on and error and closing out the inning with an RBI single by Dzarnowski. 

Penn State Harrisburg would trim the lead slightly with a single run in the top of the ninth, but the pitching staff wrapped up an impressive four-hitter with 17 strikeouts and just one walk. After Baird's 13 K's with two hits allowed in 7.0 innings pitched, Kyle Lewis struck out the side in order in the eighth and Dylan Blazer added one K in the top of the ninth. The 17 punchouts ranks tied for the third most in program history by the CNU pitching staff. 

Christopher Newport and Penn State Harrisburg will close out the three-game set on Sunday, March 12 as they will throw out the first pitch at Noon. Fans are advised that Daylight Saving Time is in effect, pushing clocks forward one hour.