MISENHEIMER, N.C. -- The Christopher Newport pitching staff narrowly missed a seventh shutout of the season on Wednesday afternoon as the Captains traveled to Pfeiffer University and came away with a 10-1 on the road. The Captains (28-7) allowed just a single unearned run in the fifth inning while the CNU offense took care of business by reaching 10 runs for the third time in the last four games. 

Six different CNU pitchers combined for a five-hitter against the Falcons, with rookie Brandon Cassedy (3-1) earning the win with 3.0 innings of relief starting in the second frame. Jackson Baird got the start and retired the side in order in the bottom of the first with one strikeout before making way for Cassedy. The freshman then cruised through the next three innings unscathed with three strikeouts. 

Jack Braley came in next, surrendering the unearned run in the fifth but the veteran right-hander struck out three while allowing just one hit. Over the final three innings Dylan Blazer, David Gingras, and Danny Checkosky each tossed one clean inning apiece. Blazer went 1-2-3 in the seventh before Gingras and Checkosky each added one punchout each in the eighth and ninth, respectively. 

With the dominance on the mound anchoring the Captains, the offense would score five runs in the top of the third for the decisive inning, while adding two more in the fourth and sixth frames. The scoring started with an unearned run in the top of the second when Justin Bowers scampered home on a single to center field by rookie Sam Benedict. 

That would be a preview of things to come as Benedict finished the day with a season-high 4 RBI. In his next at-bat, he provided the big blow with a bases-clearing single to center field to cap the five-run inning. Scott Crosson led off the third with a walk and then moved up to third when Zach Dzarnowski doubled two batters later. Bowers then hammered a high fly ball to left field that was tracked down, but plated a run for a sacrifice fly as Crosson raced home to give CNU a 2-0 lead. After Alec Reilly walked and Jake Benedict singled in Dzarnowski, the Captains got another base hit from Ayden Stuffel to load the bases. That would bring up Benedict, who paid off the big inning with a 3-2 laser to the outfield that chased in all three runs. 

CNU took a 6-0 lead after three and tacked on two more in the fourth. Crosson again reached to lead off the inning, this time with a hit-by-pitch. After a passed ball moved him up, Reilly delivered with his team-leading 32nd RBI, driving in Crosson with a single into center field. Jake Benedict joined the action with an RBI single to center field and the Captains' lead grew to 8-0 after 3.5 innings. 

Rounding out the offensive output for the Captains in the top of the sixth, Reilly added another RBI with a groundball and Bowers scored on an errant throw. 

CNU scored 10 runs on 10 hits including a double by Dzarnowski. Sam Benedict finished 2-for-4 with 4 RBI while his brother Jake added a 2-for-3 effort with 2 RBI and a run scored. 

Christopher Newport will return to action this weekend with a pair of games against Mary Washington. CNU will first host the Eagles at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday before traveling up to Northern Virginia for the return trip against Mary Washington on Sunday.