NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In the first game of today's USA South doubleheader vs. Methodist University (10-5), senior pitcher Sean Chitsaz (Burke, Va.) led the Captains to a program-record 13th straight victory in a career-best performance on the hill. CNU won, 1-0, in a pitchers duel and improved to 14-1 overall, 3-0 in the USA South.

Chitsaz pitched eight innings and struck out  a career-high 10 in the win. He allowed just three base hits in the game and walked one. Chitsaz impressed from the opening pitch, striking out the side in the first inning and again in the fourth. He retired 11 straight batters at one point, including six strikeouts.

The Captains were locked in a pitchers duel, though, as Tre Britt was also pitching well for the Monarchs. The senior pitched a complete game with eight innings pitched, allowing just one run on seven hits and a walk. Britt struck out three in the loss.

Second baseman Matt Shoemaker led the way offensively, going 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and a walk. Connor Madden scored the only run in the game, after getting on with a lead-off double in the bottom of the fifth. Luke Saunders drove him in with a two-out single for the lone RBI of the day.

Chitsaz ran into some trouble in the 8th inning, after a single down the right field line by Tyler Younger. After an error on the next play, the Monarchs had two runners on with only one out. The Captains starter got out of the jam with a line-out double play to the centerfielder.

Matt Verdillo came on to work the ninth and earned his second save of the season. He struck out two in a 1-2-3 inning to lock up the win for CNU.

The Captains and Monarchs will take the field for game two at approximately 2:45 pm.