NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Conner Clark and Nicholas Baham roped three hits apiece, while Josh Husby helped quiet the River Hawks with a solid outing in his first collegiate start as the Christopher Newport baseball team picked up its third straight victory with an 8-1 triumph over Susquehanna on a warm Saturday afternoon at Captains Park.
 
Leading the way at the plate, Baham launched his third home run of the season while also adding a pair of doubles. Meanwhile, Clark scored three times and stole three bags to go along with his three hits. Additionally, Seth Woodard knocked in two runs, while Andrew Suppa contributed a pair of hits to balance out a high-powered offensive attack.
 
On the mound, Husby twirled a gem while striking out seven in six innings of work. Later, Brian Owens and Joe Burris came out of the pen to mop up with three pristine innings of relief.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 7-2 on the season. The setback drops Susquehanna to 0-2.
 
Getting on the board quickly, the Captains struck in the bottom of the first. Clark roped a one-out single to left before Woodard worked a seven-pitch walk. Two batters later, Baham flashed some opposite field power as he launched a three-run blast that just missed tattooing the scoreboard in right for a fast 3-0 edge.
 
Meanwhile, on the mound, Husby was dealing. The freshman struck out two in the first, one in the second, and three in the third to keep the visitors off the board. Later, the offense scratched out another run with a little small ball. In the bottom of the third, Clark drew a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With the infield back, Woodard simply smacked a grounder to second, which chased in Clark and gave the hosts a 4-0 lead.
 
Although Susquehanna cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fourth with a leadoff home run, Husby settled back in. He induced a pair of mile-high pop ups and dropped the hammer with a perfect breaking ball that painted the outside corner for his seventh strikeout to keep the three-run advantage.
 
After two more solid innings from Husby and a pristine frame from Owens in the seventh, the offense added a little more insurance. Clark opened the scoring with a screaming double to center that brought home Jordan Mason. Two pitches later, Woodard found the exact same spot with an RBI double of his own before Craig Johnson laced a scorcher back through the middle for the squad's third run of the inning.
 
Following a pitching change, Baham smacked a double that put a pair of runners in scoring position before Suppa legged out an infield single after punching a slow chopper up the middle that scored Johnson to give CNU an 8-1 lead.
 
From there, the bullpen did the rest. Owens came back in the top of the eighth with two more strikeouts before Burris retired the side in order in the ninth to close out the win.
 
Husby earned the victory with his 81-pitch gem, while Bobby Grigas took the loss after scattering four runs on six hits in six innings of work.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action tomorrow when the squad hosts Oswego State at 1 p.m.
 
---CNU---