NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The St. Mary’s College of Maryland baseball team was shut out 13-0 by No. 16 Christopher Newport University on Tuesday afternoon at Captains Park as the Captains completed the series with a decisive victory. Christopher Newport improved to 18-6 while the Seahawks fell to 7-11 in what proved to be a challenging road contest for the Southern Maryland program.
Christopher Newport wasted little time getting on the board, scoring three runs in the first inning. The outburst was highlighted by a two-run single from Gus Croll and a sacrifice fly by Jake Mutter. The early lead set the tone for a dominant performance by the hosts against a Seahawks squad that has been competing hard in non-conference play this season as it prepares to shift focus back to United East Conference competition.
The Captains added to their lead in the third inning on a two-run home run by Jacob Koenig, pushing the margin to 5-0. A run in the fourth inning extended the advantage before Christopher Newport broke the game open with a seven-run fifth inning. Jake Benedict delivered the big blow in the fifth with a grand slam to left field while Logan Adams followed with a two-run homer later in the frame to stretch the advantage to 13-0. The offensive explosion featured multiple extra-base hits and demonstrated the depth of the nationally ranked Captains lineup.
St. Mary’s College struggled to get its bats going throughout the contest. The Seahawks drew three walks but were unable to record a hit against Ryan Morrison who improved to 2-0 on the season. Morrison tossed a complete-game no-hitter with eight strikeouts, keeping the Southern Maryland hitters off balance from start to finish. The no-hitter marked a rare pitching gem that limited the Seahawks to zero base hits and prevented any threat of a comeback.
Ryan Matthews took the loss for the Seahawks and dropped to 3-2 on the season after allowing five runs over three innings of work. Colin Patterson provided a solid inning of relief while Cam Gill and Colin Bashor combined to finish the game on the mound for St. Mary’s College. Despite the strong efforts from the bullpen the early deficit proved too much to overcome against a Christopher Newport team that controlled the game at every stage.
Team statistics underscored the one-sided nature of the matchup. Christopher Newport recorded three home runs in the game including the grand slam by Benedict and the two-run shot by Adams. The Captains also collected 11 runs batted in from multiple contributors including Benedict with four, Adams with two, Croll with two and Koenig with two. The hosts scored 13 runs overall and showed strong baserunning with one stolen base and two hit-by-pitches that helped create additional scoring chances.
For St. Mary’s College the game leaders in batting showed the offensive drought with multiple players finishing the day with no hits. Eli Shafer, DJ Sifford, Connor Wilkerson and Rhett Fletcher each went hitless in their limited at-bats. The Seahawks defense and pitching staff worked to limit further damage but could not generate enough offense to stay competitive.
The loss comes at a key point in the season for the Southern Maryland based Seahawks. St. Mary’s College of Maryland serves as the region’s public liberal arts institution and its athletic programs including baseball have become a source of pride for local fans in Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert counties. The team has shown flashes of competitiveness this year and now turns its attention to conference play where every game carries added importance for standings and postseason positioning.
The Seahawks will look to regroup as they restart United East Conference action with a home contest Wednesday April 1 against Penn State Harrisburg. The home game at the St. Mary’s College of Maryland campus will give local supporters a chance to cheer the team in familiar surroundings and offers the Seahawks an opportunity to bounce back quickly after the tough road series. Fans in Southern Maryland are encouraged to attend and show support as the program aims to build momentum in league play and improve its overall record.
This series finale against a ranked opponent provided valuable experience for the young Seahawks roster. The no-hitter and offensive struggles highlight areas for continued development while the pitching staff’s ability to keep the game from getting even more out of hand in the later innings shows resilience. As St. Mary’s College returns home the focus will be on executing at the plate and capitalizing on opportunities in conference matchups.
Southern Maryland baseball fans have followed the Seahawks closely this season and understand that road games against strong programs like Christopher Newport are part of the growth process. The upcoming home slate beginning with Wednesday’s contest represents a fresh start in league action and a chance for the team to showcase its improvements in front of the community that supports it so strongly.