NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Picking up the program's fifth shutout of the season, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team improved to 24-6 after blanking Pfeiffer University (3-13) on Tuesday afternoon, 6-0. Jack Braley, Kyle Lewis, and Danny Checkosky combined for the six-hit shutout as the Captains tied the 2018 campaign for the second most shutouts in a single season. 

Braley continued his incredible run on the bump for the Captains, improving to 3-0 on the season with his scoreless outing of the season. He tossed seven strong innings against the Falcons on Tuesday, running his scoreless inning streak to an impressive 18.1 consecutive innings without allowing a run. The junior right-hander moved into a tie for seventh all-time at CNU with the shutout streak, matching Mike Cosby's roll during the 2005 season. 

The defense played well behind Braley, including an efficient first inning that saw Braley toss just six pitched. Sam Benedict made back-to-back plays at the hot corner, including snaring a laser of a line drive for the second out, and Braley induced an inning-ending fly ball. 

Christopher Newport would score all the run support he needed in the bottom half of the first, plating a single run to take a 1-0 lead. Josh Reinhold singled up the middle and was followed by a five-pitch walk from Zach Dzarnowski to bring up first baseman Justin Bowers. The veteran turned on the first pitch he saw, blistering a one-hopper to the wall for an RBI double to kickstart the offense for CNU. 

Braley worked quickly through the third in another efficient frame, throwing just 13 pitches for a 1-2-3 inning. He caught a Pfeiffer batter looking at the plate and got another line drive out, this time to Reinhold at shortstop. The CNU lead would double in the bottom half as the Captains' rookie followed up his defensive gem by reaching base to lead off the inning. Reinhold would come into score on an RBI single by Alec Reilly later in the inning. 

Both sides were quiet through the middle innings until a three-run inning broke the game open for Christopher Newport in the bottom of the sixth. A throwing error got the first runner on and then the Captains put together a two-out rally to score three. Sam Benedict and Scott Crosson walked to set up a two-run single by Reinhold. After Dzarnowski walked, Bowers was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for the final run of the inning. 

The Captains' starting pitcher closed out his day by working around a pair of singles to lead off the seventh inning. With two on and nobody out, Braley got back-to-back-to-back flyouts to strand a pair. 

Kyle Lewis took over in the eighth, holding the shutout before handing the ball off to Danny Checkosky in the ninth. The veteran closer needed just five pitches to slam the door on the Falcons. 

The Captains' record for shutouts in a season is six, set in 2011 and repeated in 2017. This year's five clean sheets ties the 2018 season and currently leads the nation in total shutouts at the Division III level.

Dzarnowski fell one free pass shy of tying the Captains' record for walks in a game and is now tied for third with four walks in a single game. The sophomore catcher is the third Captain on the active roster to record four or more walks in a game as he joins Daniel Elliott (vs. Mary Washington - 4/17/21) and Alec Reilly (at Ferrum - 2/8/20).

Three Captains recorded two RBI in the game as Reinhold (2-5), Bowers (1-2), and Reilly (2-5) each finished with a pair. Reinhold also scored twice to lead the way for CNU. 

Christopher Newport moved up in the national rankings ahead of Tuesday's contest in both the ABCA Coaches Poll and the D3baseball.com Top 25. CNU is ranked No. 12 by the coaches and No. 14 in the media poll. 

The Captains will next journey to the University of Lynchburg on Wednesday for a 3:00 p.m. start. The game will feature a pair of nationally-ranked teams as the Hornets are ranked No. 9 in the ABCA poll and No. 11 in the D3baseball.com rankings.