Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
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NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- The Christopher Newport University softball squad, ranked 17th in the nation, posted two non-conference victories Sunday at Captains Park. The triumphs came over Rowan, 4-2, and Western Connecticut State, 8-5. Keith Parr's team is now 5-3 on the season.

The games were originally scheduled to be a part of the Beach Blast in Virginia Beach, but the event was cancelled due to unplayable conditions...and single games were re-scheduled at Captains Park.

Christopher Newport opened up a 4-0 lead in the opening game vs. Rowan and held on for the 4-2 victory. Senior shortstop Candice Zollars had three hits in four trips to the plate and drove in a run for CNU.

In the late game vs. Western Connecticut State, the Captains broke a 5-5 tie with a three-run sixth inning that proved to be the difference. Sophomore second baseman Tori Clarke delivered three singles and drove in a run for the Captains, and fellow sophomore Alexis Pope, CNU's third baseman, knocked in three runs. Junior first baseman Sabrina Hill broke the tie in the sixth inning by driving in a run with a double to right field that scored sophomore Meagan Jones, who had opened the inning by reaching on an error.

Sophomore pitcher Krista Lewis picked up the victories in both games, as a starter against Rowan and in relief vs. Western Connecticut State. Lewis raised her record to 4-1 on the season by throwing a complete game vs. the Profs and the final two innings vs. the Colonials. In the opener, Lewis at one point retired 13 straight hitters and allowed only two solo home runs in the sixth inning. In her relief role in the nightcap, Lewis allowed no runs on one hit in two innings of work.

Rowan and Western Connecticut State also played each other on the beautiful 70-degree Sunday afternoon at Captains Park. Western Connecticut State won the game, 3-2, on a leadoff walk-off home run by Michaela Roche in the bottom of the seventh inning.

On Saturday, the Captains also swept a pair against SUNY Oneonta, 6-0, and Eastern Connecticut State, 12-1. 

CNU is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday with a non-conference doubleheader at William Peace University in Raleigh, N.C.