Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1: Box Score in HTML Format  |  Box Score in PDF Format
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STAUNTON, Va. -- Senior third baseman Jessie Atkinson highlighted an impressive offensive showing by the Christopher Newport softball team today, as the Captains swept USA South foe Mary Baldwin (4-16, 0-10) in a conference doubleheader. CNU improved to 20-8 overall and 7-1 in league action and outscored the Fighting Squirrels 29-4 in the two games.

For the fifth time in her career and second this season, Atkinson blasted a pair of home runs in a game, tying the program mark. She drove in a career-high eight, just one off the CNU record for RBI in a game, and she finished the day with six hits at the plate.

CNU dropped Mary Baldwin 9-1 in the first game and came back with a 20-3 dominating performance in game two.

In the first of the two games, sophomore Liz Holte started and went six shutout innings, striking out five. At the plate, Lauren Rowley led the way, with a solo homer in the second inning and a two-RBI double in the seventh. She finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored. Kristina McLaughlin also had a three-hit game and had a pair of RBI, while Jennifer Falin drove in two on a pair of hits, including her sixth home run of the season.

Mary Baldwin struggled to get anything going at the plate, but did add one run in the bottom of the seventh on a single by Kalyn Clore.

In the second game, the Captains offense ratcheted up even higher. CNU scored four runs in the first, five in the second and six in the third inning.

The Captains loaded the bases with the first three batters, setting up a grand slam blast from Atkinson right out of the gate. Then, in the second inning, CNU scored twice on wild pitches and freshman Candice Zollars delivered a two-out 2-RBI single to put CNU up 9-1 after two.

Atkinson added her fifth RBI of the game in the third inning on a single, and then rounded out her tremendous outing with a three-run jack in the top of the fifth inning. She scored Ashley Mani and Jordan Beadles with the blast and winded up being the final three runs of the game for CNU.

Mary Baldwin, held to just four hits in the game, did score three runs on RBI hits from Sophia LaBelle, Jill Polomo and Kelsey Still.

Atkinson finished the day 6-for-9 with 8 RBI and 4 runs scored. She improves her season batting average to .440 with 10 HR and 32 RBI. McLaughlin was 4-for-6 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI.

CNU will now return home for a pair of conference doubleheaders this weekend as they will play host to Peace College on Saturday, April 2 at 1:00 pm and then Meredith College on Sunday, April 3 at 1:00 pm.