WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The same day the Captains learned they were the number five team in the country (D3Baseball.com/NCBWA), the team went on the road and recorded its 24th straight victory and for the third straight game, used timely late-inning hitting to come away with the win. Christopher Newport (25-1) dropped Catholic University of America (10-6) with five runs in the ninth, coming away with a 7-3 victory.

The Cardinals scored first, with one run in the bottom of the third inning. Dan Sullivan singled in teammate Tim Mierzwa off of Captains starter Jacob Vaughn. Vaugh settled in, though, and that would be the lone blemish on an otherwise solid pitching performance for the CNU rookie. Vaughn went seven innings, allowing just five hits and struck out six, earning his second career win.

The Captains gave Vaughn two runs of support in the top of the sixth inning. Freshman shortstop Billy Steel singled and Travis Medina walked, followed by a 2-RBI double from the team's top run producer, Connor Madden.

The score would remain 2-1 until the ninth, when the Captains opened things up in the final inning. After a fly out to start the inning, seven of the next eight batters would reach base for CNU. Steven Lindemuth and Matt Shoemaker kicked things off with a single and a walk, respectively, followed by Steven Keener loading the bases with a hit-by-pitch. After a pitching change, Steel stepped in and drilled a bases-clearing double to open up the game, 5-1.

CNU wasn't done, as Shannon Mark and Madden each walked to load the bases again, setting up a two-RBI single from third baseman Luke Saunders. The five-run inning gave CNU a six-run cushion, 7-1, with just three outs remaining.

Catholic would not go quietly, though, as the Cardinals jumped on CNU reliever Matt Verdillo with a pair of walks and a single to start the inning. Verdillo forced a sacrifice fly that scored one for the Cardinals, but a walk and an HBP scored a second run in the inning. Head coach John Harvell looked then to sophomore closer Ryan Fleischmann, who recorded his fourth save in as many opportunities with a bases-loaded fly out to end the game.

Christopher Newport ran its program-best winning streak to 24 games and are now 25-1 overall this season. CNU junior Matt Shoemaker saw his season-best 16-game hitting streak snapped, tied for fifth best in CNU history, as he went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Steel had an impressive day at the plate for CNU, going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Lindemuth was the only other CNU player with more than one hit.

The Captains return home for two games this week before traveling for a conference road test at Averett this weekend. CNU will face Salisbury on Thursday at 3:00 pm and will take on #16 Tufts on Friday at 2:00 pm.