Box Score Box Score in HTML Format  |  Box Score in PDF Format  |  Photo Gallery

SALEM, VA - The remarkable success story of the 2011 Christopher Newport softball squad added yet another chapter Saturday evening as the Captains downed DePauw (IN), 11-3, to advance to the winner's bracket final Sunday afternoon in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

CNU is now 36-10 and is one of two teams left in the eight-team National Final without a loss.

The Captains closed out the Tigers in five innings due to the eight-run rule. CNU used the long ball, hitting three home runs and pounded 11 hits in the decisive victory.

"We did a great job putting the bat on the ball," Head Coach Keith Parr said after the game. "We were selective and waited for the right pitches. We had a chance to watch DePauw on Friday and knew what we were up against. We're a great hitting team."

CNU didn't waste any time, plating five runs in the top of the first inning and jumping on DePauw pitcher Emily Bichler for five runs on four hits. The Captains were also aided by three Tiger errors in the opening inning.

After Bichler walked two, senior All-America third baseman Jessie Atkinson (Mechanicsville, Va.) opened the scoring with an RBI double. She was folllowed by junior second baseman Jennifer Falin (Williamsburg, Va.) and sophomore catcher Chelsea Mitchell (Mechanicsville, Va.) who each delivered run-scoring singles. Falin would score on an errant throw by DePauw catcher Amy Hallett, and then freshman designated hitter Taylor Dillow (Springfield, Va.) added another RBI single to make it 5-0.

DePauw answered with a run in the bottom of the first to make it 5-1, but the fireworks continued in the second for CNU.

Freshman right fielder Kristina McLaughlin (Virginia Beach, Va.) opened the inning with a home run over the left field fence, her fourth of the season. Two batters later, Atkinson stepped into the batter's box and blasted her 16th home run of the year, a solo shot over the right-center field fence to make it a 7-1 game.

"We talked about the pitches she was throwing while we were in the dugout," McLaughlin said. "I was able to wait on the pitch and took it out."

Christopher Newport added to the lead with two more in the fourth inning, and again the runs came from a familiar source.

Jessie Atkinson came to the plate with McLaughlin at first after a single, and Atkinson clubbed her 17th home run of 2011, and 43rd of her career. The shot down the left field line made it 9-1.

DePauw was able to score twice in the bottom of the fourth on a pinch-hit, two-run single from Jamie Story to cut the lead to 9-3.

CNU then put the game away with two more in the top of the fifth on a two-run single from McLaughliln that scored pinch-runner Felicia Price (Sterling, Va.) and freshman shortstop Candice Zollars (Chesapeake, Va.). 

Sophomore pitcher Whitney Haller (Chester, Va.) threw all five innings for the Captains, allowing three runs on five hits. She picked up the win to improve to 19-4 on the season. Bichler took the loss and is now 30-10.

"I was nervous," Haller admitted. "They're a good hitting team, but I trust my defense. We got the job done."

Atkinson was 3 for 3 with 4 RBI and 3 runs scored. McLaughlin was also 3 for 3 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored. Mitchell and Dillow each had two hits for the Captains.

The win followed an amazing come-from-behind 8-7 victory Friday night over Eastern Connecticut State. The Captains scored six times in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game, and then won it in the eighth with the deciding run.

CNU scored a total of 14 runs in the final two innings Friday and the first two Saturday.

"You have to turn the page," Parr continued. "Every game is different...we certainly gained a lot of momentum on Friday, but once you get back on the field you have to keep working."

The Captains will take on Texas-Tyler Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va. The Patriots are 40-11 this year after surprising Linfield on Saturday, 4-0.

The eight-team field was cut to six on Saturday as Luther and Messiah were knocked out. Two more elimination games will be played on Sunday. Eastern Connecticut State will play Linfield at noon followed by DePauw and SUNY Cortland at 2:30 p.m.

Christopher Newport is now just two wins from capturing its first-ever National Championship.