NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Sophomore Carter Schmitt (Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's) was a homer short of the cycle as the Randolph-Macon baseball team dropped a 9-6 decision at No. 18 Christopher Newport on Thursday afternoon.

The Basics

Score: Christopher Newport 9, Randolph-Macon 6

Venue: Captains Park

Records: RMC 7-4, CNU 9-5

How It Happened:

• The Captains plated one in the first and stranded a runner at third in the second before the Yellow Jackets got on the board in the third. Schmitt had a leadoff triple and scored on a groundout by senior Grayson Bush (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello) to level the score at 1-1.
• CNU got that run back in the bottom of the third, but sophomore William Wian (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) fanned two Captains to strand a pair in scoring position. CNU put up four in the fourth to take a 6-1 advantage.
• RMC added to its run total in the sixth. Junior Aaron Lautenschlager (Purcellville, Va./Loudon Valley) reached on an error, went to second on a groundout, advanced to third on a base hit by senior Myles Webb (Norfolk, Va./Granby) and scored when Webb was out at second on a steal attempt as the score moved to 6-2. Freshman Zach Wernoski (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) doubled and came home on a two-bagger by Schmitt as the Yellow Jackets narrowed the gap to 6-3.
• The Yellow Jackets kept the offense rolling in the seventh. Senior Richie Dudley (Fairfax, Va./W.T. Woodson) drew a one-out walk and went to second on a single by freshman Jon Quici (Philadelphia, Pa./Conestoga). A base hit by Lautenschlager loaded the bases. Webb reached on an error as Dudley crossed home plate to make it 6-4. A walk to Wernoski brought home Quici as RMC pulled within one at 6-5.
• CNU scored three in the bottom of the seventh to go up 9-5. RMC would rally in the top of the ninth. Lautenschlager had a leadoff single and went to second on a two-out base hit by Wernoski. A single by Schmitt loaded the bases. Pinch-hitter Cole Mallory (Ashland, Va./Camp CC) reached on an error that allowed Lautenschlager to score to make it 9-6. A flyout would end the contest.

By The Numbers

• RMC had its four-game win streak halted.
• The Yellow Jacket defense had its fifth errorless contest. RMC is 4-1 in those contests.
• RMC had won five straight and 12 of the past 13 meetings with CNU.
• The Yellow Jackets have had double-figure hits in five of their past eight games.
• Schmitt went 3 for 5 with a double, a triple, one run and one RBI.
• Lautenschlager had two hits and scored twice. He has reached base in all 11 games this season. Lautenschlager leads the team with eight multi-hit games.
• Wernoski went 2 for 4 with a double, one run and one RBI.
• Webb also had two hits. He is second on the team with six multi-hit games.

Up Next

RMC will return to ODAC play on Saturday, March 16, with a noon doubleheader at Washington and Lee.