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SALISBURY, Md. -- The 22nd ranked Christopher Newport Captains (9-4) dropped a tough extra-inning decision today to 18th ranked Salisbury UniversitY (8-3) today, in the opening game of the Sea Gull Invitational, 6-5 (10 innings). Sophomore Elizabeth Holte pitched all 9.2 innings for the Captains, and senior outfielder Ashley Mani was 2-for-3 to lead CNU's offense.

Holte struck out three and weathered the Sea Gull's offense, giving up four earned runs in 9.2 innings of work. Salisbury jumped out to a 3-run lead after three innings, connecting for eight hits. Holte settled in, though, and gave up only one hit in the next three, while CNU took the lead,  4-3.

Mani led the way, getting CNU on the board with a lead-off homer in the fourth inning. Then, in the sixth, Mani doubled home Kelly Foate and Jessie Atkinson hit her team-leading fourth homer, a two-run shot, to give CNU the lead.

The Captains held the 4-3 advantage until the bottom of the seventh before the Sea Gulls tied it up in their last at-bat. CNU escaped just giving up one run, and headed to extra innings.

Christopher Newport put a run on the board in the top of the eighth, as Foate came around to put CNU back up, 5-4.  Salisbury would answer in the bottom half, though, singling home the tying run with one out. Neither team mustered a hit in the ninth, and CNU went quietly in the top of the tenth. Then, in the home half of the 10th inning, Salisbury won the game with a two-out RBI single up the middle.

CNU will face off against Wilkes College and York College (Pa.) in Saturday's doubleheader. First pitch will be at 2:00 pm against Wilkes and 4:00 pm against York.