NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Down to their final strike, the Christopher Newport baseball team escaped with a dramatic win against Susquehanna University (0-1) on Friday afternoon, coming-from-behind for a 7-6 victory. The Captains improved to 6-0 to start the season when junior Bryant Lowry delivered the game-winning blow in the bottom of the ninth.

With two on and two out, Lowry, stepping in as a pinch hitter, dribbled a game-tying infield single to the right side; an errant throw by the second baseman allowed Josh Moore to sprint home from second base to plate the go-ahead and game-clinching run.

The ninth-inning fireworks were set up by a patient and resilient comeback from the offense after falling behind 6-1 with three innings left. Susquehanna starter Matt Cassinelli had the Captains off balance through the first six innings, allowing just one run on three hits with eight strikeouts.  His only blemish was a fifth inning solo blast by Brandon Ginch, who smoked a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for his first home run of the season. 

On the other side, Zach Leone had the Crusaders offense clicking in their first game of the year. He finished the day 5-for-5, including a missle to left field for a two-run home run in the fifth inning. He had an RBI double to right center in the seventh, and scored later in the inning to put Susquehanna up 6-1. 

The CNU offense got to Cassinelli in the bottom of the seventh, though, taking advantage of three straight free passes. Tommy Vitaletti opened the inning with a hit-by-pitch, followed by a walk from Ginch and HBP by Keith Roberts. That would set up senior Connor Henderson with the bases loaded and nobody out. Henderson squared up a 1-2 pitch and pounded a bases-clearing double into the left field corner to get the Captains back in the game. The swat chased Cassinelli who finished with 6.0 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 8 K. Later in the inning, Walker delivered an RBI single up the middle to score the fourth run of the inning. 

After pulling within one run, 6-5, the Captains called on junior reliever Caleb Myers for the last two innings. He allowed just one hit, a single to Leone, and was effective in relief to pick up his first win. He faced eight batters in two innings, inducing five groundball outs. 

In the ninth, Susquehanna called on closer Liam Conboy (0-1) to finish out the game. After the leadoff batter popped out, Henderson got on with a single to left and Moore drew a pinch hit walk to put two on. Henderson would steal third, putting the tying run just 90 feet away, and Moore followed with put the winning run at second base. After Conboy got a strikeout to nearly escape the game, he got two strikes on Lowry before the game-clinching hit. 

Henderson led the CNU offense going 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Ginch, powered by his solo home run, also had a nice day going 2-for-3 with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored. 

The Captains will return to action on Saturday, as they host Ithaca College (0-0) at 2:00 pm in Captains Park. CNU will then face Susquehanna for the second time this weekend on Sunday at 1:00 pm