NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- One thing is for sure this spring, and that's if you're a fan of Christopher Newport baseball, you should plan on sticking around for all nine innings. The cardiac kids were at it again on Saturday afternoon, as senior Connor Henderson delivered a game-winning RBI single in the ninth to beat Neumann University (3-6), 3-2.

The Captains (10-1) trailed by a run going into the final frame and Henderson's knock helped turn an otherwise chilly day offensively into the team's 10th win and seventh come-from-behind victory already this season. 

Christopher Newport came into the contest as one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the country, averaging over 10 runs per game. Facing Neumann senior Kristian DeLuzio, however, the Captains were held in check for nearly the entire game. DeLuzio did not surrender a hit until the fifth inning and dazzled for the most part with eight strikeouts through eight innings of work. He allowed just one earned run in that span, setting up a potential complete game effort in the bottom of the ninth. 

The CNU offense had other plans. 

DeLuzio faced designated hitter Brandon Ginch to start the ninth, and induced a chopper to third base. Ginch, a speedy runner for the Captains, forced a rushed throw by A.J. Koscelansky and ended up on second after an errant throw ended up in the bullpen. After Ginch was lifted for pinch runner Austin Henry, second baseman Keith Roberts walked to the plate for the Captains. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Roberts tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but the ball popped up in front of the plate. Neumann's catcher, Kelvin Ortiz, tried to make a diving play on the bunt, but couldn't come up with it and Roberts raced to first base; Ortiz then got up and threw the ball into right field and Henry raced home from second to score the game-tying run. On the second error of the inning, Roberts sprinted all the way to third with nobody out, representing the winning run just 90 feet from home.

With the game knotted at two, senior Connor Henderson stepped in and lifted a game-winning single into left field on a 1-2 pitch, igniting another dramatic celebration for the Captains. The hit for Henderson was his lone connection of the day, and extended his team-high hitting streak to 10 games. 

The dramatic ninth inning would not have been possible were it not for a stellar effort from the bullpen, as CNU employed seven different pitchers on Saturday. Sophomore Craig Johnson started, tossing two shutout innings before giving way to three straight rookies in Logan Harrelson, Austin Slough and Jackson Galvin. Harrelson and Slough pitched perfect third and fourth innings, respectively, followed by Galvin's one-run fifth. Galvin allowed just one unearned run while striking out one batter. 

The team's traded runs in the sixth, as Michael Thomas gave up one in his inning of work, while striking out two. In the bottom half, CNU cut the 2-0 lead in half with an RBI single by Ginch. Josh Moore scored after he reached with a one-out walk and moved to third on a single by Tommy Vitaletti, followed by a wild pitch.

CNU's sixth pitcher of the day was junior reliever Caleb Myers, who added another dominant effort on Saturday. He retired six straight batters in the 7th and 8th innings, with a pair of strikeouts. He came out to start the top of the 9th and struck out his third batter of the day before finding himself in a bit of a jam after an error put two runners on with just one out. Head coach John Harvell then turned to senior closer Adam Emerson, who promptly struck out Jonathan DelValle and Joe Nepi to escape the threat, setting up the ninth-inning comeback. Emerson earned the win in relief, his first of the season.

Christopher Newport was led by Roberts, who had two of the Captains' six hits. Henderson and Ginch delivered the lone RBI's for CNU. Kye Williams and Curt Yenchik each had two-hit days for the Knights. 

The Captains are back in action on Tuesday, March 8 as they host #16 Randolph-Macon College at 2:00 pm.