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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Christopher Newport University softball team earned their second consecutive NCAA tournament victory Friday afternoon with an 8-0 victory over fellow USA South Conference member, Ferrum College.  The Captains led by six after three ininnings and relied on stellar defense and shut-down pitching from junior, Melanie Hazelwood to cruise to their 36th victory of the season.

CNU got the scoring started in the second inning when shortstop Candice Zollars reached on an infield single and was quickly followed by left fielder Kelley Foate's single to right field.  With two outs, center fielder Kristina McLaughlin took the first pitch she saw and deposited it over the center field wall.

The Captains added three more runs in the third on an RBI single by Taylor Dillow and a two-RBI double by Amber Arevalo.  While the Captains would add a run in the fourth and another in the sixth, the Captains moved their focus to playing lights out defense behind their junior pitcher, making only her tenth start on the season.

Hazelwood was sensational as the drop-ball pitcher surrendered only two hits and three walks in six innings in the circle.  The win improved Hazelwood to 7-1 on the year and dropped her ERA to 1.87 on the season. 
 
Hazelwood's performance was accented by terrific play behind her.  Foate made a diving catch in left with a runner on second base in the third inning and added a home run saving catch at the wall to end the fifth inning.  CNU ended the top half of the fourth with a double play up the middle.
 
CNU advances to the winner's bracket championship game Saturday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. at Captains Park where they will meet fifth seed Roanoke College.  The Maroons scored the upset of the tournament with a 4-2 victory over #1 nationally ranked Emory in the third game of the day.
 
Ferrum will play Saturday afternoon in an elimination game against eighth seeded McDaniel at 3:00 p.m. 

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