NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The fifth-ranked Christopher Newport University Captains (27-1) came out on top against 16th ranked Tufts University (3-4-1) today,  winning a tightly contested 5-3 game against the Jumbos at home. CNU came from behind and scored two in the bottom of the eighth to notch their 26th straight victory. 

Tufts University, ranked #16 in the country according to D3Baseball.com and the NCBWA, jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, as Sam Sager singled and came around to score on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice. 

CNU took the lead in the bottom half, as Steven Lindemuth and Matt Shoemaker each had an RBI single, putting CNU up 2-1. The Jumbos though, would quickly re-take the lead with two in the top half of the second. A pair of doubles and a single in the inning scored two for the road team as Tufts took a 3-2 lead. 

Both starters settled in after the rough start, and retired the side unharmed for the next three innings. It wasn't until the bottom of the fifth that the Captains would tie the game at three apiece off of Jumbos starter Dave Ryan. 

Rookie shortstop Billy Steel led the inning off with a triple to deep right field and scored on a Ben Lenda sacrifice fly. With the score knotted up, both teams went to the bullpen. The Captains relievers were extremely effective, as senior Kyle Harsanyipitched two scoreless, followed by one each from Matt Verdillo and Ryan Fleischmann. In four innings of relief, the Captains allowed just one hit and one HBP for two baserunners. 

The Jumbos sent in Christian Sbily for the last three innings. He retired six straight Captains before getting tagged for two runs in the eighth. After a Luke Saunders single and a fielders choice by Lenda, Lindemuth blasted a double to right field and the second baseman threw the ball away, allowing Lenda to score the go-ahead run. Shoemaker stepped in and delivered an insurance run with a single to left field, scoring Lindemuth.

Fleischmann came in to shut the door with three outs in the ninth, earning his fourth save of the season.  

Christopher Newport has now won 26 straight games, good for the fourth longest winning streak in CNU history. The win also gives head coach John Harvell his 297th career victory.