NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- A pair of eighth inning long balls highlighted a seven-run outburst in the final three frames, but the 18th-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team suffered a 12-11 setback to William Peace University (5-11) at Captains Park on Tuesday afternoon. Eric Wilson left the yard with a pinch hit solo homer and Jake Benedict continued the strong start to his season with a 3-run blast that pulled CNU back within one run. 

The Pacers took an early lead but the Captains tied the game twice, at 4-4, and 7-7, before a five-run eighth inning proved to be the difference. CNU scored four times in the bottom of the eighth but could not complete the third comeback of the game. 

William Peace took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first before senior Doc Daniels took the ball and settled things down for the Captains on the mound. Daniels stranded two runners in the first with a line drive out before working quickly through the second, 1-2-3, including a strikeout. 

In the bottom of the second, Stone Lasseigne and Will Pellegrino notched back-to-back singles with one out. Two batters later, Justin Liakos laced a double into the left field corner to plate both runners and trim the lead to 3-1. Daniels allowed one run in the top of the third but finished out 3.1 innings pitched in his first career outing for the Captains to keep CNU within two runs, 4-2. He allowed three hits while striking out two. 

Christopher Newport pulled even at four runs apiece with two in the bottom of the fifth. Gus Croll and Creston Saunders each reached to start the inning with a hit by pitch and a walk, setting up a sacrifice opportunity for Jacob Koenig. The sophomore outfielder laid down a perfect bunt and moved the runners up to bring up Lasseigne. On a 2-1 count, Lasseigne singled with a hard groundball up the middle and chased in both runs to tie the game at 4-4. 

The Pacers answered right back with three runs on four hits in the next half inning, re-taking a 7-4 lead. CNU continued to claw back into the game when they tied it up again in the bottom of the seventh. Koenig reached on an RBI single through the left side and moved up on a wild pitch. After William Peace got the second out, Pellegrino walked to bring up Benedict. The junior outfielder blistered a single through the left side of the infield and Koenig scored. Then, Liakos powered his second two-run double of the game into the right-center field gap. 

Unfortunately for the home team, the Pacers quickly pulled ahead again in the top of the eighth. Taking advantage of two errors in the inning, William Peace scored five runs on three hits to open up a 12-7 advantage. Griffin Sandstrum and Gavin Turner each had two RBI hits in the inning. 

Not willing to go down without a fight, the Captains turned to pinch hitter Eric Wilson with one out in the bottom of the eighth. After a first-pitch strike, Wilson jumped on the second pitch he saw and hit a towering fly ball that sailed over the wall in left center. It was the second longball of his career and first of the season. A pivotal moment came when Grant Hartman beat the throw to first to extend the inning and Pellegrino walked to set up Benedict. He fouled the first pitch he saw but then turned on an 0-1 offering and blasted a no-doubter to left center field for a three-run shot. It was his second round-tripper of the season and fourth of his career. 

Christian Williams came on to pitch the ninth inning and worked a perfect frame for his eighth appearance of the season. He kept CNU within one and brought the Captains back to the plate for their last chance at victory. Cameron Slough reached on a hit-by-pitch to lead off and his pinch runner, Gavin Spencer, raced to second on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Scott Crosson. Spencer, representing the game-tying run, advanced to third on a fly ball to right field. Another pinch hitter, Lincoln Lubsen, reached on a four-pitch walk to bring up Kevin Mackmin, who was brought in as a defensive replacement the inning earlier. Wasting no time, Mackmin blistered the first pitch he saw but the whistling groundball was hit right to the shortstop who finished out the win for the Pacers with a toss to second. 

Benedict's 2-for-5 showing with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored led the way for Christopher Newport. Liakos was 2-for-4 with 4 RBI and two doubles while Koenig added a 2-for-4 showing with a double and run scored. Lasseigne reached in three of his four plate appearances with a 2-for-3 showing and a HBP while driving in a pair with one run scored. 

Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday, March 12 as they host the United States Coast Guard Academy at 1:00 p.m.