ARLINGTON, Va. – The Marymount (Va.) University baseball team opened Capital Athletic Conference play on Sunday afternoon, dropping a twin bill to Christopher Newport University on a cold, breezy day at Bishop O'Connell High School. 

Game 1: Christopher Newport 2, Marymount 1 

A career day for junior Collin Bazemore on the mound had the right-handed pitcher tossing 6.1 innings, five of which were scoreless, for a career-high 11 strikeouts and just one earned run. 

With no scoring for either team in the first two innings, the Captains were the first to strike in the top of the third, bringing across one on a single that cut up through left side into the outfield. 

In the bottom of the fifth, the Saints evened up the score with a RBI single by sophomore Conner Hall on a shot to right-center field to score junior Kaden Darrow. Unfortunately, in the top of the seventh, CNU answered with the game-winning run on a RBI single up the middle to take the 2-1 advantage. 

Marymount had its opportunity to send the game to extra innings in the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and Darrow on third after stealing from second. However, a ground out to the second baseman ended the game in favor of the Captains. 

Game 2: Christopher Newport 4, Marymount 2 

Junior Dylan Gerdts kept the strikeouts rolling in game two, sitting down seven CNU batters in his five innings on the mound. Unfortunately, the Captains found home plate in their first at-bat, sending two across on a two-RBI home run over the right-field fence. 

By the bottom of the third, the Saints drew it even on a deep shot to the left-center fence by Darrow for a two-RBI double to score senior Lorenzo Calderon and sophomore Luke Tyree. 

Christopher Newport added two more runs to reclaim the lead over the course of the fourth and fifth innings, pushing a 4-2 advantage that would hold for the remainder of the day. 

Again, the Saints had their chance to send it to extra innings or walk-off, working the bases loaded with two outs. But, a foul out to the third baseman held the score still, as the Captain solidified the second win on the day. 

The Saints will look to bounce back on Monday, March 13, traveling to Salisbury University for another conference matchup. The nine-inning game is lined up for a 2 p.m., first pitch.