BUENA VISTA, Va. -- The 14th-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team held a comfortable 11-3 edge heading into the final three innings, but needed to thwart a comeback on the road Wednesday afternoon to pull out a 12-10 win at Southern Virginia. Thanks to a stellar save by senior Adam Emerson and a strong, balanced offensive effort, the Captains improved to 15-5 overall, and 5-2 in CAC action, while the Knights fall to 6-15 with a 2-5 mark in conference play. 

Emerson, who ranked fourth in the nation in saves coming into Wednesday's contest, locked up his league-leading fifth save of the season after entering with the game-tying run in scoring position with just one out in the 8th inning.  The Knights had already scored six runs in the frame to pull within one, 11-10,  and threatened to tie or take the lead with runners at first and second.

Head coach John Harvell called on his senior leader in the pen to close out the game and Emerson obliged, getting a popup and a flyout to end the inning. Then, in the ninth inning, Emerson was even better, as he was forced to get four outs when a runner reached after a dropped third strike. The first batter, pinch hitter Kenneth Lane, grounded back to the senior right-handed closer for the first out. Then, Emerson struck out Ryan Morin, Cody Davis and Jordan Nase in order to finish the five-out save. It was the first multi-inining save of his career and helped Christopher Newport lock up its fifth conference win in the last six games. 

Early in the game, it looked as if Emerson's services would not be required as the Captains raced out to a big lead. A 5-run second inning got things started as CNU pounded out six hits in the frame, including a two-run home run by junior A.J. Nicely. The inning started with an infield single by Keith Roberts, followed by a hit-by-pitch from Connor Henderson and a single from senior Kyle Corwin to load up the bases. With the bases full, Collin Lawless stepped in and delivered a two-run double to put the Captains' on the board. Corwin trotted in on a single by Austin Henry and then Nicely delivered the big two-run blow to put CNU up, 5-0. 

The teams traded runs in the fourth inning, when Nicely delivered his third RBI of the game on a groundball to shortstop, plating Henry after a lead-off single. Southern Virginia put its first run on the board without etching a hit against Captains' starter Blake Ream, as Nick Carter raced home on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Saunders. The CNU offense picked that run right back up in the top of the fifth, with Lawless picking up his third RBI of the game on a groundout that plated Henderson.

Ream had another dazzling start for the Captains, allowing just three hits over 6.0 innings of work. He struck out a career-high 11 batters with just three runs allowed and two walks. He picked up the win, improving to 3-0 this season. Ream was on top of his game early, striking out the side in both the first and second innings; he would strike out at least one batter in each inning pitched and multiple batters in four of his six innings. 

In support of their starter, the Captains offense continued to add to their lead with a four-run sixth inning to take an 11-3 advantage. Nicely continued his strong performance with a lead-off double, and scored on an RBI single by Tommy Vitaletti. Designated hitter Brandon Ginch then delivered a single through the left side, setting up a three-run blast to left center off the bat of Keith Roberts. The big fly was Roberts' third of the season and gives him 21 RBI, ranked second for the Captains. Lawless, Henry and Jordan Mason all had hits in the inning as CNU added four runs on seven hits. 

It would prove to be just enough, as the Knights rallied for one in the seventh and then scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth. Saunders kicked off a streak of six hits in seven at-bats for Southern Virginia with a double, followed by five singles, including four RBI base hits. Nick Carter delivered the last RBI single, through the left side, to pull the home team within just one run, 11-10, setting up the thrilling finish by Emerson. 

CNU did tack on one insurance run in the top of the ninth, when Roberts pounded a sacrifice fly to center field to score Vitaletti. The insurance tally made the final score, 12-10.  

Six different Captains finished with multi-hit games, including a 4-for-4 effort by Henry with two runs and one RBI. Vitaletti and Mason were each 3-for-6, while Roberts, Lawless and Nicely each added two-hit days. Roberts' three-run HR and sac fly gave him a team-high 4 RBI, while Lawless and Nicely each added three. CNU also had a nice performance on the basepaths, going 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts, led by two for Henderson. Coming into the game, CNU ranked second nationally in stolen bases.

CNU will stay on the road Thursday for a single game at Bridgewater College, making up a rained out contest from earlier this season. Christopher Newport will then return home on Saturday, March 26 to host Marymount University in a pivotal CAC matchup. The doubleheader will begin at Noon, with live stats available at CNUsports.com/live.