Box Score 1 | Box Score 2   (Sortable Stats)
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Game 1 vs. Eastern Mennonite: Box Score in HTML Format  |  Box Score in PDF Format
Game 2 vs. Kean: Box Score in HTML Format  |  Box Score in PDF Format

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The 11th ranked Christopher Newport University softball team picked up a doubleheader split on the first day of the 2012 Beach Blast Softball Tournament, dropping a 7-4 game to Eastern Mennonite and winning 9-1 in six innings over Kean University. Day two of the tournament was canceled due to inclement weather in Virginia Beach.

The Captains took a 2-1 lead over the Royals in the top of the third inning in the first game. Chelsea Mitchell doubled and reached third on a fielders choice, coming home to score on a Kristina McLaughlin groundout. Kelley Foate scored on a passed ball to take the lead.

It was short-lived, though, as Eastern Mennonite scored three runs in the bottom of the third and then again in the bottom of the fourth to pull ahead, 7-2. In the top of the seventh, CNU mounted a small comeback, scoring twice with the aid of three errors, but could not get all the way back as Royals starter Lisa Lee closed out the complete game win.

CNU bounced back in the second half, albeit late in the game. The game was tied 1-1 after four and a half innings as both pitchers were effective early. CNU starter Elizabeth Holte held the Cougars to just two hits in three innings, giving up one unearned run, while Courtney Yard allowed just one hit in the first four.

The Captains bats woke up in the fifth, taking a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs and three hits. McLaughlin plated both runs with a double to deep center field, scoring Foate and Mitchell for the lead.

In the sixth, senior Jen Falin blasted a solo home run to lead off the inning and kick off a big six-run frame to close out the win. Three walks loaded the bases for Mitchell, who pitched in an RBI single. After an error by the second baseman scored another run, it was rookie Sabrina Hill plating another with a single to left center. The Captains led by seven with the bases loaded and just one out, needing just one run for the win when Falin stepped in for her second at bat of the inning. She lifted a high fly ball to left field and plated Foate for the winning run on a sacrifice fly.

The Captains record moved to 3-3 on the season, and will face a stiff test on Tuesday, March 6 as they travel to Salisbury University, ranked in the top ten nationally. The doubleheader against the Sea Gulls is set to begin at 2:00 pm