NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The nationally-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team swept Mary Washington in a Senior Day doubleheader on a beautiful spring day at Captains Park on Saturday, winning game one by a score of 4-3 and game two 4-2. Daniel Elliott earned the save in both games, moving up to third all-time at CNU with eight this season. 

The Captains improved to 24-10 overall and 4-2 in conference play while Mary Washington falls to 16-19, 0-6. 

Alec Reilly led the way for the Captains in the twin bill with two hits, three runs scored, and a key outfield assist to stymie the Eagles' best chance to take the lead in the second game. Senior Michael Martorano also had a big moment at the dish, driving in a pair with a double to the gap in game two and finishing the contest with three RBI. 

The Captains' bullpen had a terrific day in the twin bill, allowing just three hits in 8.0 shutout innings pitched between the two games. Danny Checkosky (3-0) picked up the win out of the pen in game one, striking out three in two innings of work before Elliott slammed the door with a perfect 1-2-3 ninth; and Kyle Lewis (1-0) earned his first career win with 3.0 strong frames in game two, striking out three ahead of a two-inning save for Elliott. 

Game one started with the Captains throwing junior Dylan Weber for his team-leading tenth start of the year. He allowed three runs, one earned, in six innings of work while scattering ten hits. He struck out six and left with a no decision. 

Christopher Newport scored three in the first inning to take an early lead. Conner Clark smacked a single into left field in the team's first at-bat and then moved up to second on a hit-by-pitch by Crosson. Justin Bowers continued to showcase his good eye with the first of four walks on the day, loading the bases. A groundball by Daniel Elliott scored Clark from first for the first run and then Crosson raced home one batter later as Reilly reached on an infield single. Rounding out the strong start was Martorano, who ripped a run-scoring single to center field to give the Captains a 3-0 start. 

After the Eagles evened things up in the fifth, the Captains turned to Checkosky on the hill. He retired the side in order in the top of the seventh before CNU struck for the eventual game-winning run in the bottom half of the inning. Jonathan Fisher set up the score with a smooth single to center and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He then moved up to third on an error and raced home on a sacrifice fly to the shortstop in foul territory. 

Checkosky continued to roll in the eighth, striking out two without giving up a hit. He then handed the ball to Elliott in the top of the ninth, who needed just 12 pitches to strike out the side and slam the door on the Eagles. 

In game two, the Captains gave Colin D'Arcy his first career start on the mound and the rookie finished with 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, and 4 SO. He surrendered a pair of first-inning doubles to give up the lead to the visitors, but after allowing the two runs, the freshman settled in and faced just four batters each in the second, third, and fourth innings. He struck out four, including a pair in his final frame. 

Meanwhile, the Captains' offense scored once in the bottom of the first and twice more in the third to even the score at three. With the bases loaded in the first, Martorano was hit by a pitch to plate Scott Crosson for the Captains' first run. Trailing 2-1, Bowers singled to lead off the third and Reilly added an infield single. That would set up Martorano for his blistering double to the right-center gap that would plate the game-tying and go-ahead runs for CNU. 

Kyle Lewis came on for the Captains and struck out three over 3.0 scoreless innings of relief. He allowed two hits to lead off the seventh for Mary Washington as the Eagles had runners at second and third with nobody out. Gripping a one-run advantage, Lewis got a fly ball to left field for the first out and it carried deep enough for the Eagles to try and score the tying run from third. The CNU left fielder, Reilly, collected and fired a rocket toward the plate to beat the runner for the double play. With the momentum shifting, Lewis punched out the final batter of the seventh to hold onto the narrow lead. 

With the middle of the lineup coming to the plate, the Captains once again turned to Elliott in the top of the eighth. He got a weak pop up to second base, his fourth strikeout of the day, and a flyball to left for a 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom half, the offense would offer one run of insurance on a beautifully manufactured fourth run. Reilly walked to lead off and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ethan Weaver laid down an excellent sacrifice bunt to push him 90 feet to third and Kyle Schofield delivered with a sacrifice fly to left. 

Carrying a 4-2 advantage into the final frame, Elliott gave up a lead-off double, but the runner was erased caught stealing one batter later. The sophomore closer faced the minimum in his three innings of work as he got the next two batters to pop up to close out the win. 

His eight saves matches Ryan Fleischmann in 2011 and Jason Brown in 2003 for the third most saves in a single season. He also moves up to sixth all-time at CNU with eight career saves in just his second season. He trails Joe Burris '18 on the list next with nine. 

Bowers finished the day 1-for-3 with four walks and one HBP, reaching base in six of his eight plate appearances. He now has an on-base percentage of .540 on the year, ranking third best all-time at Christopher Newport. 

Christopher Newport's next two games have been postponed due to final exams. The Captains will play next on May 7 at Satlisbury University in a Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader. If any changes to the schedule occur, they will be announced on CNUsports.com.