HARRISONBURG, Va. -- Exactly 28 years ago to the day, the Christopher Newport Captains set a program record with 28 runs scored in a win over Maine-Presque Isle on April 4, 1995. On Tuesday, the nationally-ranked CNU baseball team made history by matching that program record for runs scored in a game with a 28-4 win over Eastern Mennonite on the road.

The Captains improved to 25-7 overall this season while tying the near 30-year old record with the offensive explosion and set a new mark for the most runs driven in with 27. The game was shortened after the seventh-inning due to the mercy rule.

Making the record-setting performance even more impressive, the Captains logged a pair of 11-run innings during the contest. It marked the first time in 1,588 Christopher Newport baseball games that the Captains scored double figures in an inning more than once in a game. CNU scored 11 in the second and 11 in the sixth, matching the most runs in an inning since scoring 12 against Frostburg State in the seventh inning on March 16, 2019. 

The unstoppable attack included four doubles and four home runs as part of a 22-hit barrage. All nine starters reached base and 12 Captains reached on base hits in the game including seven multi-hit performances. Alec Reilly launched a grand slam in the second to highlight the first huge inning while Jason Mendler added a grand slam and Justin Liakos a two-run homer in the 11-run sixth. 

CNU went down in order only once in the game, in the seventh inning, while adding five runs in the third and one more in the fifth to round out the record-tying performance. While putting the bat on the ball was impressive, the Captains also worked 13 walks, a top-ten single game performance all-time, and reached base in 38 of 59 plate appearances in the game. 

While the offense was setting records, Christopher Newport junior right-hander Jack Braley put the finishing touches on an impressive 19.1 inning shutout streak before finally allowing a run to cross in the second inning on Tuesday. His scoreless inning roll is the most since Brian Owens went 20.1 without giving up a run in 2019 and ranks as the sixth longest shutout streak in program history. 

Braley scattered five hits over three innings while striking out three and walking one. Four relievers came in during the game including the season debut for Connor Pennell and Christian Williams. Pennell retired the side in order in the fourth inning, striking out a pair, and Williams allowed one unearned run while striking out one in the sixth inning. Between the two, Jackson Baird (5-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out two in a 1-2-3 fifth frame. Finally, Brandon Cassedy surrendered a pair of runs while striking out two to finish out the game in the seventh. 

CNU opened the scoring with the 11-run outburst in the second. Jake Benedict opened things up with a single into left and fellow freshman Ayden Stuffel sacrificed him over with a bunt. While the Captains appeared content to manufacture a run, a walk to Sam Benedict and an RBI double by Ethan Weaver got the ball rolling toward a big inning. After Weaver ripped the first pitch he saw, Crosson only saw two before singling right back up the middle to plate a pair. Josh Reinhold wasted little time, singling into right center on the first pitch before Zach Dzarnowski took a four-pitch walk. 

With the bases loaded, Justin Bowers stepped in and stayed patient, working an RBI walk to bring up Reilly, who would deliver the big blow. The senior left-hander absolutely mashed a 1-1 pitch over the right-center field wall for a no-doubt grand slam that opened up the inning, 8-0. Eastern Mennonite went to the pen but the Captains weren't done, as Stuffel doubled to left center in his second at-bat of the inning for an RBI and then raced home when Weaver added an RBI single. The veteran second baseman moved up on a single by Crosson and then took home on a wild pitch to close out the massive inning. 

CNU kept their foot on the gas in the third as Bowers led off with his team-leading sixth home run of the season. The Captains' good eye started to show as both Benedicts walked around a Stuffel hit-by-pitch, and Weaver added his third RBI in as many plate appearances with a sacrifice fly to right. Two more walks, by Crosson and Josh Reinhold, scored another run, and Dzarnowski added an RBI single into left. Finally, in Bowers' second plate appearance of the inning, he added his second bases-loaded free pass for another RBI. 

Now leading 16-1, the Captains started to clear the bench. Pennell punched out the first batter he faced in the bottom of the fourth on four pitches, induced a foul-out on the second batter, and needed just four pitches to catch the third looking. CNU tacked on a single run in the fifth when Kevin Mackmin lofted a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring Eric Wilson, who had reached on a single in his first at-bat. 

Baird worked quickly through the fifth, striking out the first two Royals he saw before getting a first-pitch pop-up to the catcher to close out his lone inning of work. In the bottom of the sixth, the CNU reserves joined the starters with an 11-run inning of their own. First, Mendler doubled to lead off before Grant Hartman was hit by a pitch and Brandon Cassedy walked. With the bases juiced, Liakos singled to center for the first run, kickstarting a roll of run-scoring at-bats for CNU. Next was Wilson with an RBI single through the left side, followed by an RBI walk by Cameron Wallace. Drew Caroline also walked in a run and Mackmin plated a run with an RBI groundout. After Shane Kelleher was hit, Mendler stepped in for his second AB of the inning and did not miss on the first pitch he saw, pounding out his first career homer for the second grand slam of the game. 

Hartman followed with a single and then, two batters later, Liakos slammed one over the wall as well, capping the sixth inning with three RBI of his own. In the record-setting sixth, CNU scored 11 runs on seven hits while leaving one on base. Wilson, Liakos, and Mendler each had two hits in the inning. 

The lead-off spot had the best day for Christopher Newport as Scott Crosson and Eric Wilson combined to go 6-for-6 with a walk, reaching base in all seven plate appearances with four runs scored and three RBI. Both players were 3-for-3 while Crosson added the free pass. Jake Benedict and Jason Mendler combined for a 5-for-5 effort with a walk in the six-hole, driving in four and scoring five times between them. The duo batting in the ninth spot of the lineup, Ethan Weaver and Justin Liakos, paired up for a team-best six RBI and four runs scored while going 4-for-5. 

Christopher Newport will next face off against second-ranked Salisbury University (21-3) this Saturday, April 8 at 1:00 p.m. The game, which will be played at Captains Park, will be available live online at CNUsports.com.