NEWPORT NEWS, VA (February 18, 2022) – The Christopher Newport University Captains (1-3) defeated the Susquehanna University River Hawk baseball team in the season opener 2-0 in a pitcher's duel Friday in non-conference play from Captains Field.
Captain starter Jay Cassady was dominant, earning the win by scattering six hits across inning scoreless innings and striking out 15, a new CNU school record. River Hawk starter Dill Weikel pitched well himself, striking out six over five and two-thirds without surrendering a run.
Susquehanna (0-1) had plenty of opportunities to score in the first half of the game but failed to push any runs across. To lead off the top of the second inning, sophomore
Michael Mancuso drew a walk before senior
Evan Knapp rolled a ball through the right side, giving the River Hawks first and second with nobody out. Cassady then proceeded to strike out the next two batters before surrendering an infield single to graduate student
Chris Corrado, loading the bases for sophomore Sean McColluch. Cassady struck him out too, striking out the side and stranding the bases loaded.
The River Hawks threatened again in the fifth. After a Mcolluh fly out, sophomore
Kris Morrow and reached on a single. Senior
Adam Schreck then singled through the right side, but
Kris Morrow was gunned down by right fielder Scott Crosson trying to go first to third. Sophomore
Thomas Romanelli then struck out, ending the Susquehanna threat.
After Weikel came out of the game in the sixth, the River Hawk bullpen failed to keep the game tied. Weikel was replaced by Junior
Dominic Yeager who got out of the sixth unscathed but surrendered the eventual winning run in the seventh.
After retiring the first two batters of the inning, Yeager gave up a single to Kyle Schofield, and then on an 0-2 count gave up another single to Alec Reilly. Schofield advanced to third. With runners on the corners and two outs Braden Hodges roped a single through the left side to bring home Schofield and give the captains a 1-0 lead.
Christopher Newport (1-3) would tack on an insurance run in the eighth after Justin Liakos—who singled and stole second with one out—scored on a Connor Clark base hit. That was more than enough for Captain's closer Connor Pennell to come in and slam the door. Pennell pitched two innings of near perfect baseball, striking out two and only allowing one baserunner to record the save.
It was an impressive pitching performance for the River Hawks, but they were unable to capitalize offensively.
Adam Schreck was the lone bright spot on that side of the ball, going 2-4 to start of his season.
Up Next
- Susquehanna University will face off with Christopher Newport again on Saturday, February 18, in a continuation of non-conference play.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
