FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Christopher Newport freshman Jackson Baird struck out nine batters over 5.0 innings pitched on Sunday afternoon, but the Immaculata University baseball team scored eight runs in one inning against the CNU bullpen to come from behind and topple the 18th-ranked Captains, 12-6. 

In his third collegiate start, Baird surrendered just a single hit over five frames for the second time. In his collegiate debut, he tossed five scoreless with six strikeouts, four walks, and one hit allowed to get the win over New Paltz; on Sunday, he threw a nearly identical start with nine K's, four walks, and one hit allowed against Immaculata. 

The rookie left the game with a 5-1 advantage, but the sixth inning proved detrimental to the Captains bullpen. The Mighty Macs sent 12 batters to the plate, scoring eight runs on four hits to flip the scoreboard to a 9-5 Immaculata lead. Adding insurance late, the Mighty Macs scored twice in the eighth and once more in the ninth inning -- Christopher Newport crossed the plate just once more with a run in the bottom of the eighth. 

The Captains got things started early against Immaculata, picking up two runs on two hits and an error in the first inning. Kickstarting a strong day at the plate, freshman shortstop Josh Reinhold pounded his first career home run in his first at-bat. Zach Dzarnwoski then singled and moved up to third on a failed pickoff attempt and a groundout. The Captains' catcher took advantage of a wild pitch and sprinted home for the second run of the inning moments later. 

Reinhold was the catalyst again in the bottom of the third, opening up the inning with a single into the right centerfield gap. Dzarnowski moved him up with an infield single and the two runners moved up on a textbook sacrifice bunt by Kevin Mackmin. Justin Bowers drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and the Captains took a 3-1 lead after three. 

The Captains' Benedict twins, Jake and Sam, would go back-to-back with singles in the fourth and both would not need help being driven in. After reaching third, Jacob Benedict scored on a balk and after stealing third, Sam Benedict scored on a wild pitch. 

CNU scored once more as the offense attempted to mount a late-inning comeback, but a solo home run by Grant Hartman would be the only run across. Pinch hitting with one out in the eighth, the sophomore smashed a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left field for his first career round-tripper. Both Benedicts reached again and Scott Crosson extended his team-high hitting streak to 10 games with a base-hit bunt to load the bases, but CNU could not capitalize for more runs in the eighth. 

Christopher Newport falls to 11-4 overall this season with the loss and will look to bounce back on Tuesday, March 7 as they play host to No. 13 Lynchburg. First pitch at Captains Park is slated for 2:00 p.m.