NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport Captains (4-5) gave the nationally-ranked Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets (6-0) their stiffest test of the season so far, but a ninth-inning rally fell just short as the Captains fell, 7-5, on a wet Wednesday afternoon. 

The Yellow Jackets came into Wednesday's matchup with a pristine 5-0 record, outscoring opponents 41-8 and winning each game by at least six runs.  Against the Captains, the top ten team was unable to pull away as CNU battled, but could not quite complete the comeback.

Randolph-Macon scored four runs in the first three innings off of CNU starter Austin Slough (0-1), who worked out of trouble and avoided further damage with three strikeouts. Stuart Brown delivered a two-run double in the first for the Yellow Jackets before Slough struck out Herminio Azor to end the inning. Then, in the second, Jeff Butler delivered a sacrifice fly to score a run, but again Slough stymied a bigger inning with a strikeout, this time on Rick Spiers. The visitors opened a 4-0 lead after three when Jay Patti singled home Cole Migliorini. 

After managing just two singles the first time through the lineup, the Captains got the Randolph-Macon starter Michael Zubovich in the fourth inning. Craig Johnson led off the inning with a picture-perfect base-hit bunt, and Nicholas Baham then blistered a heater off the third baseman's glove to put a pair of runners on with nobody out. Keith Roberts then stepped in and singled up the middle to put CNU on the board, but Zubovich worked out of the jam, allowing just the one run. 

In the top of the 5th, the Yellow Jackets got the run back with back-to-back doubles, but CNU reliever Logan Aylor strapped in and struck out two of the next three batters, while also inducing a ground ball to the shortstop. CNU responded offensively again, getting to the first reliever of the day for R-MC. Jordan Mason and Joseph Cutchins walked to start things off, and Johnson then lifted a hard single into center field for an RBI. 

Both teams traded runs again in the 7th, with Baham smashing a hard double to the left field wall to plate the third run of the day for CNU. His double scored Mason, who had doubled to right center to lead off frame. 

Headed to the final inning, Randolph-Macon led, 6-3, and added an insurance run in the top of the ninth with a single by Stuart Brown. In the bottom half, the Captains showed their grit and resiliency as they tried to erase a four-run deficit. Facing Christian Cok for the second inning, the Captains loaded the bases with two outs, putting the tying run at the plate in Keith Roberts. Henry and Cutchins had singles, followed by a walk by Baham to set up the moment for Roberts. After a wild pitch scored Henry, Roberts connected on a hard ground ball right at the third baseman, but the Jackets defender couldn't handle it and allowed two more to score for CNU. With the lead down to just two, R-MC turned to Rick Spiers for the save. He came in and faced just one batter, earning a strikeout to hold on for the 7-5 win. 

Nate Roth III (1-0) earned the win for Randolph-Macon, after allowing one run on 2.1 innings of relief in the middle of the game. Aylor was strong in relief, tossing 4.0 innings with three hits, two earned runs, and four strikeouts. Joe Burris also pitched for CNU, and continued his stellar start to 2017 with a perfect 1-2-3 eighth inning, adding a strikeout. 

Offensively, three Captains finished with multi-hit days in Mason (2-4), Johnson (2-5), and Baham (2-4). Mason scored twice while Johnson and Baham each had one RBI, as did Roberts. Mason also had a sensational diving catch to end the threat in the third inning when he leaped toward the left-center gap and snared a would-be double by Jordan Schmeer.

CNU has a day off Thursday before returning to action with a busy weekend at home. The Captains will face Susquehanna on Friday, February 24 at 2:00 pm, and will then welcome the preseason No. 1 SUNY Cortland Red Dragons on Saturday, February 25 at approximately 2:30 pm. On Sunday, CNU will wrap up the busy weekend with another contest against Susquehanna.