Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Christopher Newport pitching shut out Rutgers University-Newark until the final inning in a 5-0 and 9-2 doubleheader sweep in Captains Park.

IN THE OPENER, junior right-hander Andrew Nasti stayed even in a pitchers' duel until the fifth inning, but Christopher Newport notched a 5-0 win.

Nasti went five full innings, allowing just one earned run on eight hits while striking out two and walking four, but senior right-hander Bryan Bierlein (1-1) bettered him with a complete game shutout.  The Captains' ace struck out three while yielding seven singles and two walks.

Scarlet Raider senior first baseman Vin Troisi notched two hits while sophomore centerfielder Ryan MacFarlane, sophomore designated hitter Michael Murray, senior rightfielder Jimmy Napolitano, sophomore leftfielder Cameron Dias and rookie catcher Josh Cote notched the other Rutgers-Newark base hits.

Rutgers-Newark stranded eight runners in the 7-inning contest.

Nasti cruised into the fifth before yielding a lead-off double to sophomore third baseman Kyle Corwin and opening the flood gates with an errant throw on the ensuing sacrifice bunt attempt to plate what proved to be the winning run.  Senior shortstop Billy Steel delivered an RBI single before junior rightfielder Austin Kilbourne sent a sacrifice fly into foul territory down the right field line to make it 3-0.  Sophomore second baseman Travis Younger then capped the rally with a 2-run single to center.

Sophomore reliever Billy Taylor coaxed the Captains (3-4) into three straight fly ball outs in the bottom of the sixth, but Rutgers-Newark (0-4) never broke through against Bierlein.

IN GAME TWO, Captain senior first baseman Justin Weaver drove in five runs with a 2-run homer and a bases-loaded triple.

Rutgers-Newark got on the board in the top of the seventh after MacFarlane singled to left, advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third.  Junior Jimmy Napolitano delivered a pinch hit single to left to plate MacFarlane.  Two-out walks to freshman second baseman Jeff Reinecke and Troisi loaded the bases ahead of an RBI single through the left side by Murray.

Captain junior rightfielder Tommy Vitaletti was in the middle of a pair of 2-run rallies during the opening innings which put the Raiders in a quick 4-0 hole.  The lead-off hitter beat out an infield single in the first and stole second.  A walk to the next batter set up a double-play ground ball that put Vitaletti on third ahead of a home run by Weaver.  In the second, Rutgers-Newark starter Chris Nichols committed a throwing error followed by a walk before Vitaletti stroked a 2-run homer to centerfield.

Weaver capped a 5-run sixth inning with a 3-run triple down the right field line.  Raider relievers Rafael Totesautt and Ryan Staub walked in a pair of runs before Weaver applied the back breaker.

Murray and MacFarlane notched two hits apiece to pace the Raiders' 6-hit attack against four Captain hurlers.  Napolitano and sophomore rightfielder Cameron Diaz delivered the other Rutgers-Newark singles.

Senior lefthander Nick Santalucia (1-0) got the win by giving up just three hits and a pair of walks while striking out six in five full innings of work.

Nichols (0-1) took the loss, yielding four runs on five hits while walking two and striking out a pair in three full innings.

Rutgers-Newark visits Haverford on Saturday for a non-conference doubleheader.  The first pitch is set for noon in the season-opening twin bill for the Fords.