WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University baseball team fell to No. 8 Christopher Newport University, 14-5, on a cold and rainy Sunday afternoon at Hoy Field. 

Gallaudet (8-14) started off on the wrong foot as Christopher Newport (24-8-1) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning via senior Christopher McDougal's three-run home run off Bison starting pitcher Brandon Holsworth (Beal City, Mich.). The Captains kept the pressure on nearly all game as they crossed the plate at least once in each of the first eight innings. Holsworth (2-3) lasted only three innings as he allowed eight runs on eight hits, including three walks and two strikeouts.

The Bison scored their first run of the game in the sixth inning as freshman outfielder Chase Magsig  (Hudsonville, Mich.) raced home from first base on a deep double by senior shortstop Tommy Barksdale (Brookeville, Md.). Barksdale scored from third later in the inning as he darted home when junior center fielder William Bissell (Brewer, Maine) was caught stealing second base. Gallaudet's final runs came in the eighth inning as the Bison racked up three runs on six walks, five of which came consecutively.

GU's other bright spots came in relief as Magsig and freshman lefty Hayden Shock (Burke, Va.) combined to throw 1.2 innings of scoreless relief in which neither allowed a hit. Magsig struck out one, walked one and hit one Captain batter in the ninth inning, while Shock helped the Bison escape a bases loaded jam in the eighth.

Barksdale led the Bison offense with two hits in two at-bats with one run scored, one RBI and one walk. Magsig scored twice as he went 1-for-4, including a walk and a strikeout. McDougal amassed three RBIs and two runs on two hits in four at-bats for Christopher Newport, while Kyle Corwin added two RBIs on three hits in his four at-bats.

This marked the sixth game against a nationally ranked foe in the month of March for the Bison, who have gone 1-5 in the process. Their sole victory came over then-ranked No. 23 Rowan University, 11-10 in 11 innings, on March 20 in Auburndale, Fla.

Gallaudet will hit the road on Saturday, April 6, as the Bison begin their conference schedule with a doubleheader against Cazenovia College (5-6) at noon.