Box Score BURLINGTON, N.C. -- Christopher Newport University, the top seed in the 2011 USA South Tournament, advanced to Saturday's championship semifinal against second-seeded Greensboro College with a 3-1 victory over Shenandoah today. Sophomore ace Whitney Haller held the #5 Hornets to just one run on seven hits to lock up her 15th win of the season.

The Captains improved to 30-8 overall this season, marking the fifth straight 30-win season for head coach Keith Parr. CNU dropped Shenandoah into the consolation bracket as the Hornets fall to 22-14 overall. CNU will face Greensboro at 9:00 am on Saturday morning, weather permitting.

After both teams went quietly, 1-2-3, in the first inning, both scored a run in the second. CNU jumped on top with an RBI ground-rule double off the bat of second baseman Jennifer Falin, scoring pinch runner Hannah Martin. The Hornets answered in the bottom half after gettting a couple baserunners on a lead-off walk and a single. Ashley Plaugher had the walk and came around to score on a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1.

Shenandoah starter Brooke Over matched Haller for the next three innings, allowing just two baserunners. Haller consistently worked her way out of jams, stranding seven Shenandoah baserunners including four in the middle three innings.

In the top of the sixth inning, CNU's veteran senior class came up in a big way.  With one out, the Captains got back-to-back  walks from seniors Ashley Mani and Jessie Atkinson. Then, after her two classmates set her up, Lauren Rowley stepped in and drilled a hard shot to the left field wall, scoring the game-winning run with a double. Falin would step in next and hit a sacrifice fly for the final run of the game.

The Hornets threatened again in the bottom of the sixth, putting two runners on with one out, but Haller got a ground out to the first baseman and then a strikeout to end the inning. She retired the side in the seventh to finish out the win.

Haller improves to 15-3 after giving up seven hits and one earned run, striking out three. Offensively, the Captains were led by Rowley, who went 2-for-2 with an RBI double and Falin, driving in a pair with a 1-for-1 day at the plate.

Shenandoah got two hits from Morgan Coble and one each from five different players. Over finished with four strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched with just three hits surrendered.

The Captains advance to Sunday's 9:00 am game against #2 Greensboro College. The two teams split a doubleheader in the regular season.