NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Starting with a base hit on the very first pitch in the bottom of the first and ending with an 11-run, eight-hit opening frame, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team blitzed out to a huge lead against the No. 21 Lynchburg Hornets (18-11) at Captains Park on Wednesday afternoon. The Captains won, 22-8, and improved to 19-6 this season behind an offensive explosion that included 17 hits and 19 RBI against the Hornets. 

The CNU attack faced ten different Lynchburg pitchers in the non-conference matchup on Wednesday, which marked the second straight win over a nationally-ranked opponent at Captains Park. Eleven different CNU players logged at least one hit in the game including five multi-hit performances for the Captains. 

Leading the way at thet top of the lineup, sophomore Josh Reinhold wasted no time at all in extending his career-opening on-base streak to 67 straight games. Jumping on the first pitch he saw, Reinhold smacked a base hit into center field for the first of three hits on the game. In addition to tacking on another game to the fifth longest on-base streak in Division III history, Reinhold also added to his 14-game hitting streak which includes eight straight multi-hit performances. 

The at-bat was a sign of things to come as the CNU lineup unleashed a barrage of base hits against the Lynchburg starting pitcher. The Captains recorded the first five hits in just ten pitches thrown by the Hornets as Reinhold was followed by a double from Zach Dzarnowksi, RBI singles by Lincoln Lubsen and Doc Daniels, and another single by Ayden Stuffel. 

Jacob Koenig was up next, patiently working a four-pitch walk to score another run. After an RBI groundball from Aaron Maxie, the bases were still loaded for Sam Benedict with nobody out. For the third time in the inning, a CNU batter ambushed the first pitch thrown in his at-bat as Benedict went the opposite way to split the infielders for a base hit. Like deja vu, Gus Croll hit the same hole on the left side of the infield on his first pitch at the plate. 

After the freshman's two-run single, Reinhold stepped in for his second at-bat of the inning and reached for the second time, this time with a walk. That would chase the Lynchburg starter, unable to record an out against the potent CNU lineup with seven runs across and responsible for three more. Dzarnowski grounded out to the second baseman for the first out, but still drove in a run with his second AB of the inning. That would bring up Lubsen for his second try at the plate and the power-hitting catcher punctuated the impressive offensive performance in a big way. 

Lubsen worked himself into a 2-2 count before driving his team-leading fifth home run well beyond the wall in left field for a massive three-run blast. His long ball capped the eight-hit, 11-run first inning that all but put the game away after just the first inning of play. 

While the early explosion was impressive, the Captains offense did not stop, scoring 11 more runs including at least one run scored in six of the eight frames the team came to the plate. CNU scored three more in the bottom of the 2nd, two in the fifth, one in the sixth and seventh innings, and added a four-spot in the bottom of the eighth. 

In the second inning, back-to-back freshmen reached when Koenig singled into left field and Maxie earned a four-pitch walk. That would bring Benedict up for his first sacrifice bunt situation of the year after serving as one of the nation's leaders in the category during his freshman season. The sophomore third baseman executed the try perfectly, moving the runners up to second and third. Croll then walked and Reinhold delivered again with an RBI single into right field. Scoring the third run of the inning was Croll one batter later when Dzarnowski singled into center field. 

Two more runs came across in the fifth when Lubsen led off with a walk and was pinch run for by Griffin Carroll. Carroll needed to just jog his way around the bases moments later, though, as Doc Daniels smashed a two-run homer to left field. Daniels connected on his fourth round-tripper of the season and extended the CNU lead to 16-3. 

Coming on as a defensive replacement, it was Kevin Mackmin who led off and scored in the bottom of the sixth. Mackmin reached on a walk and moved up on a groundball out by Croll. Then, Reinhold continued his impressive day at the plate with another single into right field to plate Mackmin. In the seventh inning, the Captains notched another run without the need of a hit as Koenig was hit by a pitch, Maxie and Croll walked, and Koenig raced in on a wild pitch. 

In their last turn at the plate, the Captains' reserves caught fire alongside the starting unit. Senior catcher Justin Husby connected on a hard-hit single into center field for his first career hit and then promptly raced to second on a wild pitch. After Justin Liakos walked and Stuffel reached on a hit-by-pitch, Andrew Cheatham stepped in for a pinch hit at-bat. Cheatham fought off a 2-2 pitch with a foul ball before the Lynchburg pitcher came too far inside and plunked the Captains' hitter for an RBI HBP. With the bases loaded, Maxie powered a long fly ball to left for a sacrifice fly. Croll walked, re-loading the bases and Reinhold reached on an error to bring up Will Pellegrino with two out and the bases full of Captains. The New York native delivered with an 0-2 single through the left side, plating the 22nd and final run of the afternoon for the Captains. 

While the Captains' offense headlined the day, the CNU pitching staff was led by five innings from senior Jack Braley to earn his third win of the season. After an uneasy first inning in which Braley wiggled out of trouble to strand a pair of baserunners, the veteran right-hander settled in and faced just one batter over the minimum between the end of the first and the start of the fifth inning. He ran into a bit more trouble in the fifth but, being staked to a big lead, finished out the frame for the win while giving up just three earned on five hits. 

Out of the pen, Marcus Dux struck out three in two innings of relief before Daniel Elliott returned to the mound for CNU in the eighth inning. He retired the side in order, 1-2-3, with one strikeout in his first appearance since February 20. In the ninth, Christian Williams struck out the first two batters he faced and finished the game with another after giving up a run on two hits. 

Lubsen led the attack with four RBI including his three-run homer while finishing the day 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Reinhold's 3-for-5 showing included 2 RBI, 2 walks, and 2 runs scored. Dzarnowski drove in a pair and Daniels added three RBI as they each collected two hits and Stuffel scored twice in a two-hit day of his own. Croll reached base four times in six plate appearances with one hit and three walks. 

Christopher Newport will continue its challenging week on Saturday, April 13 as they travel to fourth-ranked Salisbury University for the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference matchup on the road. First pitch against the Sea Gulls is set for 2:00 pm.