by Wesley Evans

NEWPORT NEWS, Va.—The Southern Virginia University baseball team lost its third consecutive game Wednesday afternoon, falling to Christopher Newport University in a 4-1 defeat at Captains Park in Newport News, Virginia.

It was a pitcher's game through the first seven-and-a-half innings of play as both teams were able to register just one run apiece.

Southern Virginia (3-9, 2-5 CAC) was the first score as it brought a run across the plate in the top of the third.

Freshman leftfielder Ryan Saunders started things off with a double to left field before advancing to third off a Luke Smith sacrifice bunt. Shortstop CJ Andrus then had an RBI ground out to the second baseman, bringing in Saunders and giving the Knights a 1-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Justin King kept the Christopher Newport (10-7, 4-5 CAC) bats in check until the bottom of the sixth when Captain batter Brandon Ginch homered to left centerfield, tying the score at 1-1.

After Christopher Newport put two more batters on base and threatening to score, pitcher Bradley Jackson relieved King and got out of the jam by getting Craig Johnson to fly out to centerfield.

Both squads went scoreless in the seventh, but the home team rallied in the bottom of the eighth and brought three runs in off key hits from Johnson and Tyler Wood, giving the Captains a 4-1 lead.

Hoping to respond, the Knights were unsuccessful as they went hitless in their final at-bats.

Saunders and freshman Kaleb Caplin had two hits each to lead the Southern Virginia offense.

King went a solid 5.2 innings on the mound, striking out four and giving up just one run while walking two.

Jackson (2-2) took the loss in the decision giving up one run—unearned—and striking out two in 1.2 innings pitched.

Baseball is back on the road again tomorrow as it travels to take on Lynchburg College in a nonconference matchup. The first pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at Fox Field in Lynchburg, Virginia.