Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The sixth-ranked Christopher Newport softball team split a doubleheader on the opening day of the 2013 Beach Blast Tournament, hosted by Virginia Wesleyan. The Captains (3-1) defeated Eastern Mennonite, 6-2, and fell in extra innings to Allegheny, 3-0. 

In the first game, senior Krista Townsend picked up the start and got her first win of the season. Melanie Hazelwood came in out of the pen to finish out the game. CNU scored the first six runs of the game, opening up a big lead over the Royals and holding on for the victory.

In game two, it was Whitney Haller who tossed all eight innings of action for the Captains, suffering her first setback of the year. Haller scattered six hits through the first seven innings, not allowing a run. She struck out eight and walked just one batter in the complete game loss. 

On the other side of the ball, though, the Captains were shut down almost completely by sophomore Caitlin Nealer, as the Gator right-hander struck out a career-high 13 in a complete game victory. Nealer allowed just one hit, a two-out single in the 4th by CNU senior Chelsea Mitchell, capping a two-win day where she pitched 15 innings and allowed just three hits.

CNU rookies Tori Clarke and Meagan Jones each reached base once with a walk and junior Kelley Foate added a free pass, but CNU was unable to come around to score. 

The Captains will move on to day two at the Beach Blast, facing Randolph-Macon and Old Westbury on Saturday. CNU will then return home for a conference doubleheader against William Peace on Sunday afternoon.