FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- The 15th-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team hung a crooked number on the scoreboard in the first inning on Wednesday afternoon, leading to a big win on the road in Capital Athletic Conference action.  The Captains (13-4, 3-1) took down 17th-ranked Mary Washington (14-6, 0-4) by a final score of 10-5 after racing out to a 7-0 lead after the first three outs. 

Senior third baseman Kyle Corwin led the way for CNU in the mid-week action, driving in three runs with two hits and a walk. Senior Blake Ream (2-0) was impressive for six innings to hold the nationally-ranked foe at bay while the Captains' offense distanced themselves to the tune of a 10-1 lead after six. 

Taking on the Eagles in their second showdown between nationally ranked teams in the conference, the Captains wasted no time on Wednesday against Mary Washington's senior All-Region ace, Ryan Van Assche, on the mound. The Captains scored all 10 runs against the Eagles' starter, including seven earned; both mark new career-highs. After giving up seven in the first, he stayed in the game and finished out six innings before being saddled with the loss, falling to 2-2 on the season, walking five Captains.

The big first inning started with a one-out hit-by-pitch from A.J. Nicely, starting a run of eight straight batters reaching base. Nicely advanced to third on a double by Tommy Vitaletti, and then came in to score after an error by the shortstop. Vitaletti sprinted home after a wild pitch and then Keith Roberts and Connor Henderson loaded the bases with a pair of free passes. That was when Corwin stepped in for his first big knock of the day, delivering a two-RBI single into center field, giving CNU a 4-0 lead. Sophomore catcher Brandon Walker followed with an RBI single of his own, and after Austin Henry reached on the third hit-by-pitch of the inning, Jordan Mason delivered an RBI at-bat with a fielder's choice up the middle. 

In all, CNU scored seven runs on four hits and two errors in the first inning. Ream made sure the offense wasn't sitting long with a strong first inning, facing just four batters and striking out the Mary Washington cleanup hitter to end the inning. The Eagles broke through with their first run in the bottom of the third with a single and a double to start the inning, but Ream induced a pair of groundballs to third base and a strikeout to limit the damage. 

Both pitchers avoidede trouble until the sixth inning, when Van Assche gave up three more runs to the Captains offense. Mason singled to lead off, and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nicely. Vitaletti pounded his second double of the game into left field, driving in a run, and then scored when Keith Roberts singled after a Brandon Ginch walk. The third run came around on Corwin's second RBI base hit of the game, singling into right field to plate Ginch. 

Ream came back out for the bottom of the 7th, but Mary Washington finally got to the CNU starter. Back-to-back singles started the run, followed by an RBI groundout and a walk to load the bases. A double by Mitch Moynihan plated two more runs and chased Ream from the game for reliever Joe Burris. Ream finished the game with 6.2 innings pitched, seven hits and five runs allowed with three strikeouts. 

Caleb Myers tossed a scoreless eighth inning and senior closer Adam Emerson finished out the game with a perfect ninth, striking out one. Corwin was one of three Captains with multi-hit performances, going 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and 1 run scored and a walk. Roberts was 2-for-3 with 1 RBI, 1 run and a walk, while Vitaletti added a 2-for-5 effort with 2 runs and 1 RBI. 

The Captains will stay out on the road for their next four games, starting with a conference doubleheader at York (Pa.) on Saturday, March 19 starting at Noon.