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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Sophomore pitcher Elizabeth Holte won her second game in as many days and the ninth-ranked Christopher Newport softball team split on the second day of the Early Bird Invitational hosted by Methodist University. CNU fell, 2-0, to Piedmont College and earned a 5-0 shutout of Roanoke College. CNU improved to 2-2 through four games this season.

The Captains bats struggled in the first game of the day, played at 9:00 am on Saturday morning. Senior B.J. Cofer shut down CNU, allowing just four hits in the shutout. The Captains strung together a pair of singles in the top of the fourth inning as Jennifer Falin and Chelsea Mitchell stayed hot for CNU, but a strikeout ended the inning.

Krista Townsend pitched for the Captains, and was solid in her season debut, allowing just five hits and two earned runs. Townsend struck out four and allowed a pair of RBI singles as Piedmont avenged a loss to the Captains in last years Regional hosted by CNU. The Lady Lions improved to 5-0 with the win.

In game two of the day, the Captains scored five runs in the bottom of the third and held on for the shutout victory, behind Holte's arm and solid defense. Holte went six scoreless, allowing six hits as the defense converted 12 groundouts with no errors committed in support. Mitchell came on in relief for her first collegiate inning and closed out the combined shutout.

Roanoke starter Gretchen Wolfe was unable to get out of the third inning after the Maroons struggled defensively with three errors and the Captains took advantage with five runs. Rookie Candice Zollars singled to left field and stole second before Falin singled her in to take the 1-0 lead. Chelsea Mitchell drove in a run on a fielder's choice before a pair of RBI walks from Lauren Rowley and Felicia Price.

After day two of the 2011 season, Falin leads the way for the Captains, hitting .500 with three runs scored and three RBI. Holte improves to 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA.

Christopher Newport will return to Newport News for their home opener on Tuesday vs. Salisbury, set for 1:30 pm.