NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In front of a Captains Park record crowd of nearly 1,000, the second-ranked Christopher Newport University Captains (28-3, 9-2) dropped a 12-7 decision to top-ranked Shenandoah University (22-2, 9-0). CNU came-from-behind to take a 5-2 lead, but the Hornets answered with a pair of three-run innings to hold off the Captains.
Both teams struggled to put together offense early in the game as the only run scored in the first three innings came off an RBI groundout by Greg Van Sickler. CNU starter Sean Chitsaz and Shenandoah hurler Vince Claudio were locked in a 1-0 battle after three, each with four strikeouts.
In the fourth, though, the bats came alive. The Hornets went up 2-0 with a solo homer from Cory Nelson, but it was CNU that really lit up the scoreboard in the inning. The Captains scored five runs and batted around in the bottom of the fourth to take a 5-2 lead. CNU chased two pitchers in the inning, including Claudio, scoring twice on a Connor Madden single and then twice more on a Ben Lenda single. Rookie Billy Steel also came around to score on a wild pitch to help stake CNU to the three-run lead.
Shenandoah, though, flexed it's muscle in the next two innings. The nation's leader in runs scored and home runs per game got a pair of blasts in the fifth and sixth, including a two-run homer from Clint DeHaven off of Chitsaz. CNU pulled back ahead in the bottom of the fifth, 6-5, after Matt Shoemaker led off the inning with a double and scored on a double-play from Steel. Shenandoah, though, scored three in the sixth to take the lead for good against reliever Richard Lindsay.
Shenandoah's bullpen settled down and held the Captains bats at bay, led by Bobby Stefanowicz and Ben Hendrickson. Hendrickson pitched through the only 1-2-3 inning of the game for either side and gave up just two hits in two innings while Stefanowicz went 2.2 innings giving up just one run.
The Hornets were led by DeHaven, who went 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. He had three extra-base hits as seven of the Hornets 11 hits went for extra-bases.
The Captains got two hits each from Drue Vernon, Lenda and Shoemaker. Shoemaker scored twice, while Lenda and Madden each had two RBI in the game.
The nation's top two teams will return to face eachother again tomorrow at 1:00 pm. Live stats and video will be available at CNUsports.com
Both teams struggled to put together offense early in the game as the only run scored in the first three innings came off an RBI groundout by Greg Van Sickler. CNU starter Sean Chitsaz and Shenandoah hurler Vince Claudio were locked in a 1-0 battle after three, each with four strikeouts.
In the fourth, though, the bats came alive. The Hornets went up 2-0 with a solo homer from Cory Nelson, but it was CNU that really lit up the scoreboard in the inning. The Captains scored five runs and batted around in the bottom of the fourth to take a 5-2 lead. CNU chased two pitchers in the inning, including Claudio, scoring twice on a Connor Madden single and then twice more on a Ben Lenda single. Rookie Billy Steel also came around to score on a wild pitch to help stake CNU to the three-run lead.
Shenandoah, though, flexed it's muscle in the next two innings. The nation's leader in runs scored and home runs per game got a pair of blasts in the fifth and sixth, including a two-run homer from Clint DeHaven off of Chitsaz. CNU pulled back ahead in the bottom of the fifth, 6-5, after Matt Shoemaker led off the inning with a double and scored on a double-play from Steel. Shenandoah, though, scored three in the sixth to take the lead for good against reliever Richard Lindsay.
Shenandoah's bullpen settled down and held the Captains bats at bay, led by Bobby Stefanowicz and Ben Hendrickson. Hendrickson pitched through the only 1-2-3 inning of the game for either side and gave up just two hits in two innings while Stefanowicz went 2.2 innings giving up just one run.
The Hornets were led by DeHaven, who went 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. He had three extra-base hits as seven of the Hornets 11 hits went for extra-bases.
The Captains got two hits each from Drue Vernon, Lenda and Shoemaker. Shoemaker scored twice, while Lenda and Madden each had two RBI in the game.
The nation's top two teams will return to face eachother again tomorrow at 1:00 pm. Live stats and video will be available at CNUsports.com