NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – After moving up to No. 11 in the D3baseball.com Top 25 earlier in the day, the Christopher Newport baseball team celebrated with another dominating victory on Tuesday afternoon, downing former conference rival Methodist University (16-9) by a final score of 18-6.  The Captains improved to 19-5 with a powerful display, blasting four home runs and eight extra base hits. 
 
Playing in front of a good crowd on a beautiful sunny day at Captains Park, CNU improved to 14-3 at home this season with the win. CNU gave up a run in the top of the first, but Connor Henderson tipped the momentum back in favor of the Captains with a mammoth three-run blast in the bottom of the second to give CNU a 3-1 lead. From there, the Captains would go on to score 10 runs over the next three innings to run away with the lead.
 
Henderson's home run was set up by a lead-off single from designated hitter Brandon Ginch, followed by a double to left field by second baseman Keith Roberts.  Henderson would step up and drill a 1-0 pitch deep to left center for his second home run of the season. A sacrifice fly by Jordan Mason later in the inning would cap the first of three 4-run frames for the Captains.
 
In the bottom of the 3^rd inning, it was senior Tommy Vitaletti who stepped in with a devastating blow to left field. Leading off the inning, Vitaletti smoked a 1-0 pitch off reliever Noah Dawson well over the wall to left center field. It was the first of two round-trippers on the day for Vitaletti, who now has eight on the season. Henderson would also tack on his 4^th RBI of the day in the 3^rd with a single through the left side to chase home Ginch. 
 
The Captains would hang another crooked number on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 4^th, thanks to back-to-back home runs from A.J. Nicely and Vitaletti. Rookie Austin Henry led off with a double and moved up to third on a single by Mason. With two on and nobody out, Nicely lifted a 1-2 pitch over the wall to left center for a 3-run shot. Then, just two pitches later, Vitaletti turned on a 1-0 offering and smashed his second dinger over Moores Lane beyond the left field wall.
 
Making the start on the mound for CNU was junior lefty Michael Thomas, earning another spot start after a sensational game last week against Bridgewater. The CNU southpaw was named the CAC Pitcher of the Week after tossing a complete game shutout against the Eagles and on Tuesday, mystified the Monarch batters for the first four innings. He registered four strikeouts and allowed just one unearned run in that span. In the 5^th, however, Thomas was chased after the first four batters reached on a pair of walks and a pair of singles.
 
Craig Johnson (1-1) would come on in relief and allow a third run to Thomas' docket on a sacrifice fly, as the junior would wrap up his line with 3 earned runs allowed over 4-plus innings. Johnson would remain in the game for three innings and pieced together his second straight impressive relief effort for the win. On Saturday, he picked up a four-inning save against Marymount and followed up that appearance on Tuesday by running his shutout streak to 12 and a 1/3 innings. Since joining the bullpen, Johnson has allowed just one run in 14 innings pitched, while striking out 15 batters. He earned his first career win on Tuesday.
 
The Captains would answer Methodist's 3-run fifth inning with their third 4-run inning of the game to take a 10-run lead, 14-4. Nicely added a two-run single to his impressive day and Henderson picked up his 5^th RBI with a sac fly to right field. The team would coast the rest of the way with Johnson throwing well and the offense adding one in the 6th and 3 more in the bottom of the 8th. In the 8th, rookies Joseph Cutchins and Elliott Sledd each had RBI knocks, followed by junior Bryant Lowry.  

Seven different pitchers appeared in the game for Methodist, with starter Greg Johnson (1-1) getting saddled with the loss. Johnson allowed four runs in two innings of work. 

Six different Captains registered multi-hit performances, including the two-homer day by Vitaletti. Nicely was a team-best 3-for-5 with 5 RBI while Henderson also registered 5 RBI in a two-hit performance. Out of the pen, rookie Corey Williams tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Jackson Galvin finished the win with a pair of strikeouts in the ninth. 

CNU will return to Captains Park on Wednesday, taking on Mary Washington in Capital Athletic Conference action. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm against the Eagles.