BURLINGTON, NC – Christopher Newport's softball squad captured the USA South Conference Tournament Title and its accompanying bid into the NCAA Tournament with a 4-1 win over Shenandoah Sunday afternoon.

It's the seventh time in the history of the program that CNU has captured the conference title and the second consecutive championship for the Captains.

With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Jessie Atkinson reached on an error and was lifted for a pinch runner, Megan Morris. Renee Ashworth singled, Morris advanced to third. Ashworth promptly stole second. After a strike out, Kristin Nickloy hit the Captains only home run of the tournament, a three-run blast, to put Christopher Newport on top, 4-1.

The Hornets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. The Captains tied the score in the bottom of the inning, when Jordan Beadles executed a perfect suicide squeeze to tie the game.

Ashworth finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Katie Moyers also was 2-for-3 and Nickloy went 1-for-3 with the game-winning home run.

Kristen Rowe improved to 20-1 with a complete-game. She allowed one unearned run on five hits, walked one and struck out six.

Rowe was named the tournament's MVP. She was joined on the All-Tournament team by Nickloy, Atkinson, Mary Kennedy, Ashworth, and Ashley Mani.

The Hornets fall to 28-11 on the year while CNU improves to 35-5. The Captains will head to the NCAA Regionals beginning May 7, most likely in Salisbury, MD. 

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