NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport University opened up a 9-run second inning, punctuated by a grand slam by junior second baseman Matt Shoemaker (Newport News, Va.), and went on to shutout Hampden-Sydney (2-2) in the Captains season opener, 13-0. Junior starter Sean Chitsaz (Burke, Va.) pitched five scoreless with three strikeouts to earn his first win of the 2011 season.

CNU has won six of its last seven season openers and improve to 8-3 under head coach John Harvell.

After a scoreless first inning, the Captains got on the board early in the second behind solid plate discipline. The first four batters of the inning reached base by walk or hit-by-pitch. After an error, CNU got back-to-back sacrifice flies from Shannon Mark and Billy Steel. Another error and walk loaded the bases up for Shoemaker, who blasted a grand slam home run over the left field wall to open up the 9-0 lead.

Chitsaz settled in with the big lead and faced just 19 batters in five innings of work. He struck out three and allowed just five hits for the Captains. Three teammates combined to support his effort in relief, as Matt Verdillo struck out a pair in one inning of work, Bryan Bierlein struck out three in two innings and Ryan Fleishmann shut the door with a three-strikeout ninth.

Shoemaker's four RBI led the way in a 1-for-2 day, as he also scored three runs. Junior catcher Ben Lenda was the only Captain with a multiple-hit day, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored. Seven different Captains registered at least one run batted in and nine different players scored in the game for CNU.

Patrick Kuhns led the way for Hampden-Sydney, going 2-for-2 with a double. James Shahayda was tagged with the loss in his collegiate debut, managing just 1.2 innings, giving up 7 runs.

Christopher Newport will return to action on the road this Tuesday, February 15 at the University of Mary Washington. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm.