MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Sophomore Cameron Slough blasted a grand slam and finished the game with six RBI as the 11th-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team closed it's trip to Myrtle Beach with a dominant 11-1 win over Neumann University (0-1). The Captains improved to 8-3 on the season with the win, which was shortened to seven innings via the 10-run rule. 

Slough finished the game with a 3-for-4 performance and a career-high 6 RBI to match Sam Benedict for the most in a game this season. His bases-clearing blast in the top of the fourth inning changed the game as CNU took a 5-1 lead and pulled away with another run in the fifth and five more in the sixth. 

On the mound, senior Jackson Baird (1-1) had the Knights guessing at the plate all game with six strikeouts and just three hits allowed. After an RBI double in the bottom of the second, Baird recorded eight straight outs and cruised through the third and fourth frames with three strikeouts and six batters faced. In his final inning of work, the fifth, Baird stranded a pair of baserunners with his final punchout of the game. 

With the lead in hand, he passed the ball off to Ryan Morrison for the sixth and the Captains' reliever kept his strong start to the season going with a 1-2-3 inning. Then, Colin D'Arcy finished out the win, facing just four batters. He gave up a single but quickly retired the runner with a double play and closed out the victory with a groundball to short. 

The offense carried the day with several standout performances. In addition to Slough's effort, senior Doc Daniels reached in all four of his plate appearances by going 3-for-3 with a walk. He scored three times and drove in one with a double. Justin Liakos was also perfect, going 4-for-4 at the dish with a couple stolen bases. 

The scoring started in the top of the fourth inning when Lincoln Lubsen walked and moved up to second on a single by Daniels. Ayden Stuffel then loaded the bases ahead of Slough, who blasted his first career home run to give the Captains a 4-0 lead. The grand slam was followed by a Liakos single into left field and a stolen base. Jake Benedict and Scott Crosson added back-to-back singles to plate another run and Christopher Newport took a 5-1 lead. 

In the top of the fifth, Daniels reached with a one-out double and Slough came up two batters later. With two outs now, Slough delivered again, driving in another run with a double to right center field. 

Putting the game away, CNU scored five more runs in the top of the sixth. Scott Crosson started things off with a hit-by-pitch and moved up when Josh Reinhold singled up the middle. Aaron Maxie then loaded the bases with an infield hit to bring up Lubsen. The senior stepped in and kept the line moving with an RBI single. It was the first of four RBI singles in the inning as Daniels followed with one and Slough added another with one out. Liakos then plated Lubsen with his base hit to left field and Daniels scored on a sacrifice fly by Benedict. By the end of the inning, CNU scored five runs on six hits. 

In the game, Christopher Newport rapped 20 base hits and all nine starters registered at least one in the game. In the seventh, rookie Ashton Hylton came on and picked up his first career hit and Eric Wilson added a pinch hit single as well. 

The Captains will return to Newport News for a busy week of baseball action with their next game moved to Thursday, March 6 at 2:00 p.m. CNU will take on Roanoke College Thursday before welcoming Hartford for a doubleheader on Friday. First pitch against the Hawks is set for 11:00 am on Friday. CNU will also take on Penn State Harrisburg this weekend with a game against the Lions set for Saturday at 1:00 p.m.