NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Senior Reece Yeargain (Chester, Va./Benedictine) drove in four, including the game-winner in the ninth, senior Ryan Duphorn (Erial, N.J./Paul VI) scored three times, including the deciding run, and senior Tyler Dunn (Salisbury, Md./James M. Bennett) tossed two scoreless innings to earn the victory, as the No. 17 Randolph-Macon baseball team edged Christopher Newport on Tuesday afternoon.

The Basics

Score: #17 Randolph-Macon 7, Christopher Newport 6

Site/Venue: Newport News, Va./Captains Baseball Park

Records: R-MC 8-1, CNU 4-4

How It Happened

• After a pair of scoreless innings, the Yellow Jackets got on the scoreboard in the top of the third. Senior Zach Evans (Fort Mill, S.C./Seneca) had a leadoff single to left center and moved to third on a double by Duphorn. With two away, Yeargain lined a single to center that plated both runners to give R-MC a 2-0 advantage.
• The Yellow Jackets would add to their lead in the fifth. Duphorn led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a base hit by freshman Ricky Gannett (Newark, Del./St. Mark's). Senior Mike Nickles (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) drew a walk to load the bases with none out. Yeargain reached on a fielder's choice, bringing home Duphorn with the third run of the contest. Senior Shawn Nickles (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) dumped a single into left that drove in Gannett, making it 4-0.
• The Captains rallied for six in the bottom of the fifth before R-MC got one back in the top of the sixth. Senior Zach Evans (Fort Mill, S.C./Seneca) had a two-out double to right center, moved to third on a base hit by Duphorn and scored on an error as the Yellow Jackets pulled within one at 6-5.
• R-MC would tie the game in the seventh. Mike Nickles had a leadoff double, moved to third on a wild pitch and came home when the throw went to third to make it 6-6.
• The Yellow Jackets reclaimed the lead in the ninth. Duphorn drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on a base hit by Mike Nickles. Yeargain reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Duphorn to score from third and give the visitors a 7-6 edge.
• Dunn (1-0) retired CNU in order in the eighth. He worked around a leadoff single in the ninth and stranded the potential tying run at second  

By The Numbers

• Duphorn went 3 for 4 with a double, a walk and three runs. Mike Nickles had three hits, including two doubles, and one run. Evans had two hits and two runs.
• Freshman Cam Furman (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) was impressive in his first collegiate start. He faced 10 hitters in 3.0 innings with one hit, no walks and four strikeouts.
• Dunn was the eighth and final pitcher for the Yellow Jackets.

Up Next

Randolph-Macon will host TCNJ in a three-game series this weekend on Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park. The teams will play a doubleheader at noon on Saturday, Feb. 29, and a single game on Sunday, March 1 at noon.