FERRUM, Virginia -- Ferrum College's baseball team fell 8-2 to Christopher Newport University this afternoon at Panther Field. The game evened the non-conference weekend series between Ferrum and the #25-ranked Captains at a game each. 

RECORDS
#25 CNU (1-1)
Ferrum (1-1)

THE BASICS
Christopher Newport scored three runs in the top of the third inning, one on Johnathan Fisher's RBI single to right field, another on a balk, and the third on Andrew Suppa's ground out.

Ferrum got on the scoreboard when senior first baseman Tim Ortega blasted a solo homer over the left field fence in the bottom half of the third inning to trim the lead to 3-1.

Ortega then ripped an RBI double to left center in the fifth inning that drove in Grey Sherfey and the lead was down to 3-2. CNU's Alec Reilly belted a grand slam home run in the top of the seventh inning and Ferrum had no answer from there.

Nathan Clements earned the win for CNU after pitching an inning and a third in relief with two hits and an earned run. Ferrum starter Will Davis absorbed the loss after allowing four hits and three earned runs over four and a third innings.

KEY STATS
CNU: Trey Hicks 2-4, double, run, RBI; Johnathan Fisher 2-4, run, RBI;
        RP Clements (W, 1-0) 1.1 inn, 2 hits, 1 ER, 1 K, 1 BB
Ferrum: Ortega 3-4, double, HR, 2 RBI; SP Davis (L, 0-1) 4.1 inn, 4 hits, 3 ER, 6 K, 5 BB

BEHIND THE WHISTLE
"A cleaner baseball game today. We competed well, but came out on the short end. Looking forward to the trip to Atlanta next weekend." --Head Coach Ryan Brittle

BACK ON THE DIAMOND
Brittles bunch will be back in action Friday through Sunday, February 14-16, at the 2020 Rawlings Southern Classic, being hosted by Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia. The Panthers face Berry College Friday at 6:00 p.m., Oglethorpe Saturday at 7:00 p.m., and Rhodes College Sunday at 11:00 a.m.