NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport junior Cameron Slough blasted his third career grand slam to highlight an offensive outburst that included eight extra-base hits for the Captains in a doubleheader sweep against Southern Virginia University (0-2). CNU improved to 3-0 on the year after capturing a 10-3 win in the opener and holding off the Knights for a 10-8 win in game two. 

Slough, who slammed a pair of 4-RBI dingers as a sophomore, had the highlight of the afternoon when he opened up an eight-run lead on the Knights in game one. Stepping in with the bases loaded and one out, the junior backstop barreled a 3-1 pitch and drove it deep to center field, leaving the yard in the deepest part of the park. His homer gave the Captains a 9-1 lead with just two innings left to play. 

In game two, the Captains also got a round-tripper off the bat of Aaron Maxie. As part of a 3-for-4 showing that included three RBI and two runs scored, Maxie roped a fourth inning two-run shot over the wall in right center field to put the Captains ahead by six, 8-2. His sacrifice fly two innings later would end up providing an imperative insurance run as it stood up as the ninth run in a 10-8 game. 

In addition to the homers, had six doubles and 22 total hits against Southern Virginia pitching. Jake Benedict, Sam Benedict, and Josh Reinhold each recorded three hits in the twin bill with a pair of walks each. Slough also had three hits with a team-high 5 RBI between the two games. 

Senior left-hander Ryan Morrison (1-0) started game one and gave the Captains a solid five-inning outing. He struck out five batters while allowing just one run on four hits and a walk. Jackson Chappell recorded two outs in the sixth before giving way to Mitchell Mortensen, who went 1.1 scoreless in relief, striking out a pair. Caleb Ammons, Luke Baker, and Nick Jones finished out the game on the mound for Christopher Newport. 

CNU started the scoring in the bottom of the second when Slough reached on a one-out double over the center fielder's head. Jacob Koenig delivered a two-out RBI with a hard lash into center field, plating Slough. In the bottom of the third, the Benedict brothers reached on back-to-back singles and Jake scored on an errant throw after Sam stole second base. 

SVU cut the lead in half with a run in the fourth, but the Captains re-took a two-run lead in the fifth behind the Benedicts again. Jake Benedict smoked his third double of the season and raced in on an RBI single by Sam Benedict moments later.

The game opened up in the bottom of the seventh with Logan Adams started the inning with a walk, fighting back from being down in an 0-2 count. A sacrifice bunt moved up the runner and the twins were walked to load the bases. Facing a reliever, Reinhold singled into center field to score two ahead of a Maxie walk to set up the Slough slam. Reinhold added another RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to wrap up the scoring in game one. 

The second game featured another strong start from the Captains rotation as senior Cooper Newell (1-0) struck out six over 5.0 innings with three hits allowed. He left the game with an 8-2 lead and handed the game off to the bullpen. 

A six-run third inning got the offense started when Creston Saunders reached on an infield single. Jake Benedict sailed the center fielder for an RBI double to kickstart the offensive outburst. He would come in to score on a wild pitch two batters later and then Slough followed with an RBI double to make it 3-0. The lineup kept churning with Koenig reaching on an HBP and Macho Santiago loading the bases with a hard-fought walk. Opening up the lead, Brayden Mazzoni rifled a double into the right field corner to clear the bases. 

After Southern Virginia scratched a pair across in the top of the fourth, Reinhold and Maxie paired up for a double-homer combo in the bottom half to re-take a six-run advantage, 8-2. The Knights trimmed the lead to two on a homer in the top of the sixth, but Maxie's decisive sac fly in the bottom of the sixth would be all the bullpen would need from there. Adding another run of insurance in the bottom of the seventh, Saunders drove in Koenig for the 20th run of the day. 

CNU will return to action on Tuesday, February 17 as they travel to Eastern Mennonite University.