DANVILLE, Va. – Christopher Newport's baseball team scored four runs in each of the sixth and eighth innings and held off a late charge by Shenandoah to eliminate the Hornets 10-8 Friday morning at Dan Daniel Park.
The Captains (24-12) struck first in the top of the first inning when Matt Lewellen tripled into the right field corner and scored one batter later on a RBI sacrifice fly by Jayson Basanes.
The Hornets (22-19) then took the lead in the bottom of the second on a two-run RBI single by Nick Sborz (Berwick, Pa./Berwick).
Shenandoah would increase its lead to 4-1 in the fourth when David Jenkins doubled to left field, which plated two more runs. SU would then add another in the fifth to lead 5-1 on a sacrifice fly by Josh Bosley (Oakland, Md./Garrett CC).
CNU would then tie the score at 5-5 with a four run sixth. Garrett Robinson led off with a home run, Trey Collier plated Basanes and then Ricky Medina followed with a two RBI single to tie the score.
Each team would add one on the seventh and the Captains followed that with four more in the eighth inning. The Hornets would rally for two in the eighth, but reliever Matthew Tignor held off a late rally to pick up the win.
Adam Kuchemba (Plains, Pa./Caughlin) and Tyler Daniel (Richmond, Va./JR Tucker) each went 2-for-4 and Steven Todd (Hillsboro, Va./Loudoun Valley) finished 2-for-3 for the Hornets. The Captains were led by Basanes who went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, Robinson finished 3-for-4 with a solo home and three runs scored, Lewellen went 3-for-5, Collier finished 2-for-5 and Medina went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. J.R. Creamer (Purcellville, Va./Loudoun Valley) started for Shenandoah and went 5 1/3 innings allowing four runs on five hits, one walk and two strikeouts. Bosley pitched an 1.2 innings of relief allowing six hits and three runs but Gerry Sasse (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter) suffered the loss after allowing four hits, three runs, one walk and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work.
A complete box score and play by play for this game can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/bb/2004/041604.htm
Shenandoah completes its season next Friday afternoon against Southern Virginia.
