NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In its return to the diamond for the first time in nearly a year, the Christopher Newport baseball team stunned Roanoke College (1-2) with a three-run rally in the top of the 9th inning to come from behind and capture a season-opening victory on Thursday afternoon. The Captains (1-0) scored seven of their eight runs in the final three innings and escaped Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark with a one-run victory, 8-7. 

In his first career game, freshman Jay Cassady played hero on both sides of the ball. His go-ahead sacrifice fly in the top of the 9th proved to be the difference and then, in the bottom of the inning, Cassady went to the mound and recorded the game-clinching save. 

Christopher Newport showcased a strong nucleus of young pitching in the game as six different arms came to the mound for the Captains, all of whom are freshmen or sophomores. Second-year Dylan Weber made the start for the Captains and went three strong innings with just three hits allowed and one unearned run. A trio of rookies recorded the next 12 outs as Jack Braley, Matt Gaither, and Danny Checkosky all appeared in their collegiate debut against the Maroons. 

In the eighth inning, sophomore reliever Jack Rosenberg toed the rubber and got through the eighth inning but the Captains were trailing, 7-5, headed into their final at-bat. Thanks to the ninth inning theatrics, Rosenberg picked up the win and gave way to another freshman arm, Cassady, for the save in the ninth. 

The top of the ninth opened with senior catcher Eric O'Brien leading off with a single. After back-to-back walks to load the bases, the Captains rally started gaining some momentum. The next batter was Alec Reilly, who took an 0-1 pitch into the body to score the first run of the frame. With the bases still loaded, freshman Scott Crosson flied out deep to center field to chase Matt Rhodes home for the game-tying run, bringing up Cassady with two on and one out. A wild pitch moved the runners up 90 feet and Cassady lofted a 2-2 pitch deep enough into left field to send home third baseman Daniel Elliott for what proved to be the game-winning tally. 

The Captains were trailing for the majority of the contest as Roanoke took a 1-0 lead after three before CNU tied it up in the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, the Maroons teetered back in front with a three-run inning, which the Captains answered again with a three-run frame of their own in the top of the seventh. The teams traded runs in the next two half innings before Roanoke took a 7-5 advantage with two in the bottom of the eighth. 

CNU's first run of the season came in the fifth when Ethan Weaver walked and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Conner Clark. After a wild pitch, Weaver raced home on an RBI groundout from Jonathan Fisher. In the seventh, the Captains scored three runs on one hit and took advantage of two errors to knot the game at 4-4. Cassady singled and Weaver walked. An errant throw plated the first two runs and Kyle Schofield picked up his first career RBI with a groundout later in the inning. 

Weaver led the Captains offense on the day with a 2-for-3 showing including an RBI triple in the top of the eighth inning. He scored twice, walked twice, and drove in one run. Cassady was 1-for-3 with 2 runs scored, an RBI and one walk. 

Rosenberg earned his second career win in relief and Cassady captured his first save, retiring the side in the bottom of the 9th facing just four batters with no hits, no walks, and just one HBP. 

The Captains return to action on Wednesday, March 3 at Hampden-Sydney College. First pitch against the Tigers is slated for 3:00 p.m.