GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Catcher Lincoln Lubsen delivered a mammoth grand slam in game one and then added a solo shot in the game two as he helped lead the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team to a pair of impressive wins at the D3 Showcase in Greensboro, North Carolina on Saturday. First, the Captains raced by No. 16 Denison (0-1) in the first game, shortened to seven innings in a 17-1 final, and then, CNU took down the No. 8 Marietta Pioneers (0-2) by a final score of 5-1. 

While Lubsen and the offense exploded in the first game, it was a pair of dominant pitching performances that truly led the way for Christopher Newport against the two nationally-ranked foes. Fifth-year senior Dylan Weber (1-0) combined with Peter Hoenig to allow just a single run on four hits against Denison; then, sophomore Brandon Cassedy (2-0) had one of the finest outings of his career against the Etta Express, striking out seven on two hits while allowing just an unearned run in game two. He was backed up by Christian Williams and Kyle Lewis working clean innings to close out the game.

Five CNU pitchers surrendered just two runs, one earned, on eight hits over 16 innings pitched on Friday. The group struck out 12 and walked three, limiting chances by the two national powers. Both games were delayed by rain in the area on Friday morning, but after the three-hour rain delay, the Captains pitching staff led the way. 

Denison took a 1-0 lead by manufacturing a run in the bottom of the first after a bunt single and a stolen base. The Big Red runner moved up a fly ball and then scampered home on a groundball out to take the lead. Unfazed, Weber struck out the final batter in the first and promptly recorded six straight outs before the next baserunner would reach in the third. He wiggled out of a jam in the inning and then closed his outing by facing just one batter over the minimum over his final three innings of work. 

Meanwhile, the Captains' offense gave him plenty of support with three runs in the third, two in the fourth, and 12 more combined between the fifth and sixth innings. Justin Liakos got things going in the third with a single and Scott Crosson followed with a walk. After Zach Dzarnowski loaded the bases with a walk, Lubsen stepped in and kicked off his impressive day with a two-run double into the left field corner. Dzarnowski would come in on an RBI groundball and the Captains took a 3-0 lead. 

In the fourth, Jake Benedict opened up the inning with a single up the middle and then a long two-base hit by Crosson chase him in to give the Captains a 4-1 lead. After getting into the bullpen, CNU worked three straight walks to score another run as Josh Reinhold picked up the RBI free pass. The Captains then broke the game wide open with a seven-run fifth inning, doing most of the damage with two outs. Aaron Maxie led off with a single into left before Denison recorded two outs to bring up Crosson. Another walk put two on and Ayden Stuffel legged out a swinging bunt to load the bases for Dzarnowski. The Captains' designated hitter smacked a single into right field to plate the first two runsand put runners at the corners. Lubsen was hit by a pitch to load them up again for Reinhold, who laced a screamer through the left side to score two more. Not to be outdone, junior third baseman Doc Daniels hammered a three-run home run over the wall in left field to give CNU a 12-1 lead. 

Dzarnowski added another RBI single in the sixth and the bases were juiced for Lubsen. The first-year Captain swung on a 1-1 pitch and powered it over the wall the opposite way to clear the bases with a grand slam. He finished the first game 2-for-3 with 6 RBI and two runs scored; he also walked and was hit-by-pitch once, reaching base in four of his five plate appearances. Dzarnowski was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI, 3 runs and two walks while Reinhold was 1-for-3 with 4 RBI and a couple of walks. 

In game two, an early run favored the opponent again as Cassedy fell into a 1-0 hole after the top of the first inning. After giving up one run on one hit and an error, though, the sophomore right-hander was nearly unhittable. He retired 14 of the next 15 batters he faced and allowed just one more hit through his seven innings of work. After the first inning, only one Marietta player advanced beyond second base against Cassedy as he closed out his dominant pitching performance with seven K's in 7.0 innings pitched. 

Offensively, the Captains did not trail long as they answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. Crosson doubled to lead off and advanced to third on an error by the second baseman. Dzarnowski loaded the bases with a walk and Lubsen delivered again, this time with a sacrifice fly to tie the game. 

In the CNU half of the third inning, Lubsen smashed his second round-tripper of the day to nearly the same spot in right center. His solo shot gave the Captains a 2-1 lead, which proved plenty for Cassedy and the bullpen. Still, CNU tacked on two more in the fourth and a fifth insurance run in the bottom of the seventh. First, the Captains put together some more two-out magic when Crosson walked and moved up on a single by Ayden Stuffel into left field. The Captains then showed off their patience at the plate, as three straight CNU players walked to plate two more runs. Capping the offensive performance, Doc Daniels doubled with one out in the bottom of the seventh and then raced home when Benedict trade places with him on a double down the right field line. 

On the hill, Williams went 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth, inducing two groundballs and a lineout to center field. Lewis came on in the ninth and struck out two after a leadoff single. Marietta showed some life with a double, but Lewis finished out the win one batter later with a groundball back to the mound. 

Leading off for the first time this season, Crosson put together an outstanding overall performance as the table setter by reaching base in eight of his ten plate appearances on Friday. He was 2-for-3 against Marietta with two walks and a pair of doubles. In the opener, Crosson was 1-for-2 with three walks, another double, and four runs scored. 

Lubsen finished the day with nine RBI on four hits, powering the Captains offense from the cleanup spot while Reinhold added five RBI hitting in the five hole. The sophomore shortstop reached base in both games, extending his consecutive games on base streak to 49 games and adding to his Division III record to start a career. He passed Beriah Quick (Cornell College) and now ranks 14th on the all-time Division III list. 

Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. as they are scheduled to face No. 10 Cortland at First National Bank Field, home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, to close out their appearance in the 2024 D3 Showcase. Live video is available online, courtesy of Marietta College.