Box Score NEWPORT NEWS, VA - The CNU softball team extended their record to 3-0 in the NCAA tournament with an impressive 4-0 victory over the defending national champion Messiah College.  The victory improves the Captains to 39-8 on the season and improves upon the school record for wins in a season that they set in yesterday's game.

The Captains broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning when junior outfielder Ashley Mani hit a two-run home run following a single by senior shortstop Mary Kennedy.   "Ashley was putting pretty good swings on the ball today and I wasn't expecting that to happen, but it was great to see her deliver" said head coach Keith Parr of the deciding home run.

The Captains added another run when freshman catcher Chelsea Mitchell followed Mani's home run with one of her own down the left field line before CNU scored the final run in the seventh.  The four runs proved to be more than enough as senior pitcher Kristen Rowe got the win for the third consecutive day as she struck out five Messiah batters in seven innings of work. 

The Falcons' Jessica Rhoads matched Rowe pitch for pitch and held the Captains scoreless for the first five innings.  Rhoads entered the game with a record of 26-3 on the season and was the catalyst during Messiah's run to the 2009 national championship.

"We've seen a lot of good pitching this year, seen a lot of the top teams in the country.  She's a great pitcher, but it's not a foreign experience to our team."  said Parr.  "10 innings in 90 degree weather yesterday is tough on a pitcher and I'm sure that played into it."

The Captains advance to the Newport News Regional championship Sunday at 4:00 pm on the campus of Christopher Newport University.  The games will played following Commencement ceremonies that are scheduled to be held in POMOCO Stadium.  The Captains softball team has seven players who will receive their diplomas in the morning and then play in the Regional Championship game in the afternoon.

The graduating senior class of seven players has won more games (142) and played in more NCAA tournaments (three) than any other group in CNU history.  Parr says this is "the most successful class in CNU history in regards to wins, NCAA appearances.  From the standout players to the role players, this is an outstanding group of student-athletes and teammates.  It's a group of girls who stuck with it and got better every single year."

A complete box score will be available soon.