Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1: Box Score in HTML Format  |  Box Score in PDF Format
Game 2: Box Score in HTML Format  |  Box Score in PDF Format

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The nationally-ranked Christopher Newport University softball team swept their first conference series of the year when they dispatched Methodist University, 3-1 in the first game, 7-0 in the second. CNU improves to 14-4 overall and 2-0 in the USA South, while Methodist slipped to 11-11, 2-2.

In the first game, sophomore starter Elizabeth Holte shut down the Monarchs for six innings, and finished out the complete game with just one run allowed. She struck out three and allowed only seven hits as she was locked in a pitching duel with MU starter Alex Bass. The senior Monarch allowed just one run in the first six innings before the Captains tacked on two in the top of the seventh for insurance.

Freshman Taylor Dillow singled for the Captains in the third inning and was replaced by a pinch runner, Hannah Martin. Martin swiftly stole second and moved over to third on a sacrifice by freshman Candice Zollars. She would score on a base-hit bunt from Kelly Foate.

CNU added two more in the seventh, as Dillow stepped in and smoked a 2-RBI single up the middle, scoring Chelsea Mitchell and Kristina McLaughlin. Holte improved to 5-2 with the victory.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Whitney Haller made her USA South debut and impressed for the Captains. She pitched a complete-game shutout for her seventh win of the season, allowing just five hits. Haller struck out seven and walked none.

The Monarchs sent Bass back out to the pitching circle in the second game and the senior was solid for the first four innings, but got hit hard in the fifth. The first seven Captains in the inning reached base, with six hits and a walk, highlighted by a two-RBI single by senior Ashley Mani. Mani went 2-for-4 in the game with two RBI and one run scored.

CNU scored six in the inning, as Zollars and Foate each had an RBI single, while senior Jessie Atkinson drove in one with a double. CNU added one more in the top of the seventh, as Jennifer Falin double in Foate for the final score, 7-0.

CNU stroked 12 hits in the game, as Foate, Mani and Dillow each had two hits in the contest. Every starter for the Captains had at least one hit.

Christopher Newport returns to action tomorrow as they take on Virginia Wesleyan College at 1:00 pm.