NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The eighth-ranked Captains mounted another comeback on Thursday, erasing a six-game deficit late in the game, but this time around Randolph-Macon (3-1) would come out the victor, pulling out an 11-8 win. Christopher Newport drops its first game of the year, falling to 5-1 overall, despite the late surge. 

The Yellow Jackets opened up a 7-1 lead in the game, scoring once in the first and three times each in the third and fourth innings. Catcher Tim Benjamin was a catalyst in the offensive burst, lifting a two-RBI double down the right field line in the fourth inning to give R-MC the biggest lead of the game. 

So far this year, though, the Captains offense has shown a resiliency that has led to four come-from-behind wins. So once again, on Thursday, the CNU bats woke up late in the game. Trailing 7-1, CNU tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth, as Bryant Lowry smacked a two-out double down the right field line to score Billy Steel, and came around to score on an RBI single by Justin Weaver. 

In the sixth, the first five batters would reach for CNU as the Captains pulled even. Paul Keyes and Andy Viands hit back-to-back singles, followed by a bunt single from Preston Grissom to load the bases. Steel stepped in and smoked a pitch into the left center field gap for a double, clearing the bases. Then, senior Christopher McDougal singled up the middle to tie the game, capping the six-run comeback. 

Adam Emerson would enter the game in the seventh, striking out a pair to keep his ERA pristine through four appearances this season. In the eighth, however, a CNU miscue extended the inning against senior Matt Verdillo, who would be saddled with the loss. The Yellow Jackets would take the lead, 10-7, in the inning, and held on from there. CNU added a run on another hit by Justin Weaver, a double scoring Steel, but a solo home run by Benjamin gave Macon the final, 11-8. 

The first six batters for CNU each had two hits in the game, as CNU finished with 15 total knocks. Billy Steel led the way, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored, while Weaver added another two RBI performance.

Jeb Weymouth was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and runs scored for Randolph-Macon, and Tim Benjamin added a monster performance. He was 4-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored, including the solo homer.

The Captains are back in action this weekend, as they take on Maryville College in USA South Conference games Saturday and Sunday. CNU will host a doubleheader at 11:00 am, followed by a single game at 1:00 pm on Sunday.