Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

DEMOREST, GA- The Christopher Newport University softball team completed its weekend trip to Georgia Sunday, splitting a USA South doubleheader at Piedmont. The Captains won the opener in eight innings, 2-1, and then lost the nightcap, 6-3.

The Captains were propelled in the opener by the superb pitching of senior Krista Townsend, who pitched all eight innings to earn the victory. Townsend allowed just one run in the first inning and struck out six batters while allowing no walks and scattering eight hits. She evened her record this year at 3-3.

CNU won the game with a run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior Kristina McLaughlin that scored junior Kelley Foate with what proved to be the winning run.

Sophomore Sabrina Hill tied the game at 1-1 with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning, her third home run of the season.

In the second game, Piedmont jumped on CNU starter Whitney Haller, scoring five runs in the first inning en route to the 6-3 win. The Captains collected nine hits in the loss, four from Hill, but stranded seven runners in the game.

Hill, last year's USA South Player and Rookie of the Year, ended up going six-for-seven in the doubleheader with a home run, double, and four singles. She now leads the Captains with 28 total hits and 22 runs batted in this season, and raised her batting average to .406 with her six-hit effort Sunday.

CNU is now 13-8 overall and 5-2 in the USA South. The split came after the Captains won two on Saturday at LaGrange to begin the Georgia trip.

Piedmont is now 15-3 overall and 5-1 in USA South action.

Christopher Newport travels to Rocky Mount on Wednesday for a USA South doubleheader at North Carolina Wesleyan. The action will begin at 3 p.m.