NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- CNU became only the fourth team to score seven runs against a vaunted Lynchburg pitching staff this season but the second-ranked Hornets (26-4) held off the host Captains (16-13) for an 11-7 win on Thursday afternoon. In the fifth inning, Christopher Newport tied the game up, 6-6, on a grand slam by sophomore Cameron Slough before the nationally-ranked foe stung CNU with five runs over the last four innings. 

Playing in front of a season-best crowd on a chilly, but sunny afternoon at Captains Park, the Captains fell into a 6-0 hole in the top of the first before working to claw their way back into the game. Rookie Jackson Chappell put together an incredible long relief appearance against one of the top teams in Division III, tossing 4.1 no-hit innings with six strikeouts to keep the Captains in the game. 

Then, in the bottom of the fifth, the patient CNU offense showed off a good eye at the plate to load the bases with three walks and a hit-by-pitch. With one run already in on an RBI free pass for Josh Reinhold, Slough strolled to the plate with the bases full and two outs on the scoreboard. After falling behind in the count, 1-2, Slough stared down the Lynchburg pitcher and a blustery wind gusting straight in toward home plate. Despite the obstacles, the designated hitter turned on the next pitch and snuck a blast just inside the foul pole in left field, clearing the wall for his second grand slam of the season.

The game was tied up at 6 runs apiece but would not last as Lynchburg rallied for two runs in the next half inning. It proved to be all they would need, but the Hornets added two more in the seventh and one run in the top of the ninth for the final margin. 

Prior to the game-tying slam, the Captains scratched one run across in the bottom of the first when Jake Benedict led off and singled through the left side. The junior outfielder stole second and third base before Aaron Maxie delivered an RBI single into left field to trim the lead to five, 6-1. 

Chappell came on to close out the top of the first and recorded a ground ball on the second pitch of his relief outing. He then stayed on and worked quickly through the next two innings, retiring six straight batters with three K's. In the top of the fourth, a pair of batters reached on walks but Chappell locked in again with an infield fly and another punchout. Getting stronger with every inning, the rookie closed out a dominant appearance with another perfect frame, striking out two to finish with 6 K. 

The Captains scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth on one hit as Lincoln Lubsen and Benedict reached on walks. Sam Benedict loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch and Reinhold fouled off three pitches in a solid nine-pitch AB to walk in a run. Two batters later, Slough hit the grand slam. 

Christopher Newport scored one more run in the bottom of the seventh when Sam Benedict reached on an infield single and moved up to second on a balk. With two wild pitches, Benedict sprinted home for the final Captains run. 

In addition to Chappell on the mound, Peter Hoenig made his first appearance of the season in the eighth inning. The first batter he faced flew out to left and the veteran right-hander then struck out a pair to close out a 1-2-3 inning. Rookie Caleb Ammons made his collegiate debut in the ninth, closing out the pitching effort for CNU with two hits and a run allowed over one inning of work. 

Christopher Newport is scheduled to play a home-and-home series against Randolph-Macon College this weekend. The Captains are set to play in Ashland on Saturday, April 12 at Noon and at Captains Park at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 13. Stay tuned to CNUsports.com for schedule adjustments due to potential weather.