NEWPORT NEWS, VA-Christopher Newport took a 9-3 decision over the Hampden-Sydney Baseball Tigers on Thursday afternoon. With the loss, the Tigers drop to 2-2 on the season while the Captains open their season with a win.

The game was tight throughout the first five frames, with the score knotted at 3-3, but the Captains used four runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to open it up.

The Tigers struck first, scoring in the top of the second with Michael Flanagan (Moseley, VA/Cosby) driving in Lee Carneal (Charlottesville, VA/Albemarle).

Flanagan later upped the lead to 2-0 in the fourth, scoring from third base on a passed ball.

The Captains fired back in the bottom of the frame with two runs to tie the game, but Carneal hit an RBI-single to score Moe Gothe (Chester, VA/Thomas Dale) in the fifth.

That lead was short lived, however, as Christopher Newport continued its momentum, again tying the game with a run in the fifth.

Christopher Newport then took its first lead of the game in the sixth, using five hits and one error to score four runs.

The Captains then added two more insurance runs on two hits in the seventh.

On the mound, Jimmy Butler (Roanoke, VA/Patrick Henry) pitched the first four innings, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with a strikeout. Trey Celata (Chesapeake, VA/Atlantic Shores Christian) was the pitcher of decision, allowing four runs – three earned – on five hits.

The Tigers recorded seven hits to CNU's 13. Gothe and Jacob Fontana (Midlothian, VA/Clover Hill) led the way with two hits each.

Hampden-Sydney returns to action Friday, February 19 as the Tigers host Penn State-Harrisburg at 3:00 PM in the first day of the Ninth Annual Floyd B. Wilcox Tournament. The Tigers will host the tournament from the 19-21 and will also feature Wesley and Greensboro.