FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Christopher Newport sophomore Brandon Cassedy (3-0) whirled a career-best gem against Wittenberg (3-2) in the second game of two outings for the Captains at the Armstrong Invitational at Methodist University on Saturday, checking into the record books as only the third CNU player to strike out 16 or more in a game. He combined with two relievers to earn a shutout over the Tigers, 4-0, after the Captains rolled to an 11-4 win against Immaculata (3-2) in the opener. 

The second-year starter struck out a career-high 16 batters over 8.0 innings pitched while allowing just three hits. He joins Austin Chrismon (18 vs. Greensboro on Feb. 24, 2013) and Dwayne Ray (16 vs. Mansfield on March 6, 1993) as the only Captains in the over 1,600-game history of CNU baseball to record 16 strikeouts or more in a game. 

Cassedy was locked in a pitcher's duel over the first seven innings before the Captains struck for three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. CNU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Scott Crosson delivered an RBI single to plate Gus Croll for the eventual game-winning run. With the lead in tow, Cassedy struck out the side in the top of the sixth and added two more punchouts as he retired the side in order in the seventh. 

Clinging to the 1-0 lead, the right-handed starter went back out for the top of the eighth and promptly struck out a pinch hitter to lead off the inning. After allowing a walk, Cassedy induced a groundball out for the second and then picked off the runner at first to close out his day having faced just 28 batters in eight innings of work. 

Backing up their starter, the Captains scored three times in the bottom of the eighth to add some insurance to the lead. Josh Reinhold, who was in danger of not reaching base for the first time in his career, led off the inning with a single to eliminate that threat to add to a now 52-game streak of consecutive games reaching base. It was the second time this season that the sophomore star extended his streak in his final at-bat of a game.

He moved up on an error and then the bases were loaded when Lincoln Lubsen reached on a walk. Reinhold raced home on a wild pitch and then Zach Dzarnowski sprinted home on a sacrifice fly by Doc Daniels. Rounding out the three-run inning, sophomore Ayden Stuffel singled up the middle to drive in pinch runner Gavin Spencer. 

After taking a 4-0 lead, the Captains lifted Cassedy in line for his third win for junior reliever Christian Williams. The Tigers reached on an infield single before Williams got a flyball out. The runner moved up on a wild pitch and Wittenberg moved him up with a groundball out. After a walk, senior reliever Kyle Lewis came on with two on and two out and closed out the shutout with a four-pitch strikeout for his first save of the year. 

The first shutout of the year came on the heels of another dominant offensive performance in the first game of the day. CNU pounded out 12 hits including nine for extra bases while scoring 11 runs in support of Dylan Weber against Immaculata. The Captains won, 11-4, after leading 1-0 after one, 4-1 after five, and 10-1 after eight innings. 

The game started with a lead-off triple by Scott Crosson as the veteran found a gap in right center and beat the throw into third base. One pitch later, he trotted home on a groundout to shortstop by Reinhold, giving the Captains a 1-0 lead. 

Weber (2-0) worked his way through the order the first time with no issues, striking out three and stranding two baserunners over the first three innings. The offense got back to work in the fifth, staking him to a 4-0 lead when Gus Croll walked and moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Stone Lasseigne. Crosson walked and brought up Reinhold, who delivered an RBI double into left field. Dzarnowski followed with a two-run double of his own, plating both Reinhold and Crosson. 

CNU tacked on five more in the sixth when the inning started the same way. Ayden Stuffel walked and moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Aaron Maxie. Croll doubled to right center to score the first and Lasseigne singled into center. Another sacrifice bunt moved both runners up and Reinhold delivered again -- this time with a two-run double. Dzarnowski walked and Lubsen smashed a double into right for two more runs as the extra-base hits kept coming. 

Weber was relieved after five innings, striking out six on three hits and three walks. He picked up his second win of the season with only one unearned run allowed. He gave way to Peter Hoenig in the sixth, who tossed two scoreless innings without surrendering a hit. Marcus Dux tossed the eighth, working around three baserunners to keep Immaculata off the board in a scoreless frame. Then, Eli Novario allowed three runs on three hits while striking out a pair with an 11-1 lead. 

Four Captains registered multi-hit performances led by a 3-for-5 showing from Reinhold with 5 RBI. Dzarnowski, Crosson, and Croll each had two hits in the game and Crosson reached in five of his six plate appearances with two hits, three walks, and a sacrifice bunt. 

Christopher Newport will return to action on Sunday against the host Monarchs of Methodist University at 2:00 p.m.