NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- A six-run seventh inning rally led the eighth-ranked Christopher Newport Captains (20-7-1) to an 8-7 win over Mary Washington on Wednesday, picking up a come-from-behind win over the Eagles in non-conference action. Junior Justin Weaver hammered his first collegiate home run and finished the game 2-for-3 with three runs scored to lead the way for the CNU offense. 

Senior Ryan Fleischmann pitched a perfect ninth inning, picking up his 10th save of the year, tying his own single season mark at CNU set in 2012. It was also his 28th career save, moving him into a tie for 4th all-time at NCAA Division III. 

The Eagles pulled ahead of the Captains, 7-1, in the sixth inning, taking advantage of four CNU fielding errors. Leading hitter Seth Jordan started the game 4-for-4, including a run-scoring single in the first and a RBI double in the sixth. 

Nick Santalucia got the start for CNU, throwing into the fifth inning and allowing just two earned runs. The junior lefty allowed 10 hits before giving way to sophomore reliever Adam Emerson. Emerson tossed 2.1 strong innings, allowing just one unearned run with a pair of strikeouts. 

The CNU offense was slow to start, scoring just two runs in the first six innings. Kyle Corwin lifted a sacrifice fly into right field in the fourth, and in the sixth, Weaver blasted a solo shot over the right field wall. It wasn't until the seventh, though, that the Captains bats would really kick into gear. 

Seven straight batters would reach in the 7th inning for CNU, led off by three straight singles from Tommy Kane, Andy Viands and Preston Grissom. The first run would score on an RBI HBP from the nation's leader in the category, Billy Steel. Then, senior Christopher McDougal laced a line shot into center field to plate two more. With the lead down to 7-5, Weaver snuck a double inside the right field line to pull the Captains within one. A wild pitch would score the game-tying run and then freshman outfielder, Jacob Houston, would deliver the go-ahead run with a single to center. 

With the lead in hand, head coach John Harvell turned to his senior relievers, Richard Lindsay and Fleischmann. Lindsay gave up a lead-off double, but escaped without any damage in the eighth. Then, in the ninth, Fleischmann tossed just seven pitches in locking down his 10th save of the year, leading the nation. 

Emerson (2-1) picked up the win for CNU, while Jake Black (5-2) suffered the loss. Jordan's 4-for-5 performance with two RBI and two runs scored was tops for Mary Washington, while James Sink added three hits. 

Four Captains finished with two hits in the game, led by Weaver's 2-for-3 day, driving in a pair and scoring three times. McDougal added two RBI in a 2-for-4 day at the plate, and Houston also had one RBI in a 2-for-3 performance. 

Christopher Newport is back in action on Thursday, March 28 as they host Virginia Wesleyan College at 3:00 pm. Live stats will be available at CNUsports.com.