Madden homers, Captains extend win streak

Walking around campus on Friday afternoon, you could hear the distinct sounds of construction workers, students enjoying the first eighty-degree day of the year, and the ping of the bat created by the Christopher Newport University Baseball team as their offense provided 12 runs against University of Wisconsin-Platteville, giving the Captains their 21st consecutive win.

“It feels good to be on such a high point. We are playing as a team. When one person struggles in a game, someone picks him up,” said junior second baseman Matt Shoemaker.

After a quick first inning, the Captains came to the plate in the bottom of the second, looking for their first run of the game. Shoemaker led off the inning by reaching first base after a wild pitch on a strike out.

Next up was sophomore utility player Chris McDougal who walked, bringing up last week’s USA South Conference Offensive Rookie of the Week, shortstop Billy Steele.

Steele laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Shoemaker to third and McDougal to second. Junior left fielder Connor Madden then singled up the middle, bringing home both runners, giving the Captains an early 2-0 lead.

After stealing second base, Madden scored on a single up the middle by junior center fielder Shannon Mark. Junior third baseman Luke Saunders was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat, advancing Mark to second. A wild pitch by Platteville pitcher Shane Murphy advanced Mark and Saunders to second and third, and a second wild pitch of the inning pushed Mark across the plate for the Captains’ fourth run of the inning.

After a big second inning, confidence could be seen in senior pitcher Tyler McElhenny’s eyes as he took the mound in the top of the third and struck out the side.

It did not take long for the Captains to add more offense, on the first pitch in the bottom of the third inning. Shoemaker sent one deep for his fourth homerun of the season. Shoemaker, who is leading the team in hitting, has an average around .450, and is coming off the disabled list, where he had shoulder surgery to replace a torn labrum.

Platteville was able to put two runners on base with one out, but two amazing defensive plays by freshman infielder Billy Steele ended the Pioneers’ threat in the top of the fourth. After junior catcher Steven Lindemuth singled, and Shoemaker double, McDougal doubled down the left field line to bring both runners home, giving the Captains a commanding 7-0 lead headed to the top of the fifth inning.

McElhenny struggled in the top of the fifth, walking three batters and allowing a single by Platteville second baseman Brett Benesh, which scored two runs on one hit, bringing the score to 7-2.

The Pioneers brought in new pitcher Grant Oldenburg to face the top part of CNU’s lineup in the bottom of the fifth. Oldenburg allowed only one hit in the bottom half of the inning and retired the side with no runs scored.

Platteville made the game interesting in the top of the sixth, pulling within three runs of the Captains. Another single by Benesh and two walks enabled the Pioneers to push two runs across on a single down the right field line.

The Captains answered strongly in the bottom half of the sixth. After Lindemuth led off the inning with a double, Shoemaker advanced him to third base on his third hit of the day, a single up to left field. McDougal advanced Shoemaker to second on a fielder’s choice. After a fly out by Steele, Madden smashed his seventh homerun of the season, giving the Captains a commanding six run lead once again.

Junior catcher Ben Lenda added two more runs for the Captains in the bottom half of seventh, to bring the score to its final, 12-5.

This week, the Captains take on Salisbury University on Thursday at 3 p.m. at Captains Park. On Friday, they take on Tufts at 2 p.m. at home as well.

The Captains will look to stay perfect in USA South Conference play, as they look to setup a showdown for the regular season championshipagainst number three ranked Shenandoah College, at Captains Park on April 2 and 3.

Posted by Brent Furbee on Mar 23 2011. Filed under Baseball, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.