Box Score NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The CNU softball team scored seven runs in the first two innings and went on to an 8-0 win over Susquehanna in the Newport News Regional of the 2010 NCAA Division III Softball tournament, setting up a meeting Saturday at 2 p.m. with defending national champion Messiah.

The Captains seized control of the game early with a three-run first inning home run by Kristen Nickloy and went on to add four more runs in the second and the final run in the fourth to end the game in five innings.  Nickloy ended the day with 4 RBI and junior Ashley Mani scored 3 runs on 2-3 hitting.  Senior pitcher Kristen Rowe went the distance for the second consecutive day and held Susquehanna scoreless and allowed only 4 hits over five innings.  Rowe struck out 8 in the victory.

Susquehanna will play Greensboro at noon on Saturday in an elimination contest.  Frostburg State and top seeded Salisbury will play an elimination game at 10:00 am Saturday morning, first game of the day. 

CNU improves to 38-8 and will play the only other undefeated team in the Newport News Regional, defending national champion Messiah College at 2:00 pm for the right to advance to the Regional Championships on Sunday.  Messiah earned a 10-inning victory over Salisbury on the strength of 10 strong innings from pitcher Jessica Rhoads who improved to 28-3 on the season.  The loss ended a streak of 34 consecutive victories for the Sea Gulls.

The box score