Box Score
Box Score in HTML Format

Photo Gallery  ||  YouTube Video of Game-Winning Home Run

NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- They say that good things come to those who wait. Softball fans who waited for skies to clear Saturday to play the 2014 Capital Athletic Conference Softball Championship were treated to a fantastic game at Captains Park that ended in dramatic fashion. Christopher Newport University senior Taylor Dillow had to wait until the eighth inning before being called upon, and Dillow proved to be the hero for the Captains as they captured their first CAC crown in their initial season as a conference member.

Dillow, a senior from Springfield, pinch hit with CNU trailing Salisbury, 2-1, in the bottom of the eighth inning. She delivered a two-run walk-off home run over the left field fence to give the Captains a 3-2 victory and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. It was Dillow's sixth home run of the year and the ninth of her career.

The drama-filled triumph ended Salisbury's run of 17 straight Capital Athletic Conference titles.

"I didn't know it was gone until I got down to first base," Dillow said following the dramatic finish. "I was just trying to get a good swing on the pitch and move Hanah up." Pinch runner Hanah Marshall, who entered the game following a Jenna Sprinkle base hit, scored ahead of Dillow on the blast.

The win was the third in four games against the Sea Gulls this season, and sends CNU to the NCAA's for the 12th time in the 30-year history of the program. Keith Parr's squad is now 35-6 overall and 22-1 at Captains Park. The victory was CNU's 14th straight.

Salisbury, now 33-3 with all three losses to CNU, has been ranked the top team in the nation the last two weeks and will have to settle for an at-large bid.

The title game was originally set to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, but was delayed for more than six hours due to rain. Once play finally began, starting pitchers Makayla Jenkins and Rachel Johnson took over.

Johnson, Salisbury's junor standout, struck out the side in the first inning. CNU sophomore Tori Clarke ended the shutout with a second inning solo home run to give the Captains a 1-0 lead. It was the second home run of the season for Clarke.

Jenkins, a CNU freshman from Gloucester, entered the game with two shutout wins over Salisbury this season...including a 1-0 triumph on Friday. She sailed through the first three innings before Salisbury sophomore Katie Sebbane tied the game with a solo home run in the fourth inning.

Christopher Newport, ranked 13th in the country, missed an opportunity to break the 1-1 tie and win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning when junior Sabrina Hill was thrown out at third base on a base hit from freshman catcher Karlee Holzbach. The inning-ending out sent the game to extra innings.

Salisbury, the second seed in the five-team tournament, then grabbed the lead in the top of the eighth with a leadoff home run from senior Harley Hill. Salisbury carried a 2-1 advantage to the bottom of the eighth with Johnson three outs away from forcing a second and deciding title game in the double elimination tournament.

With one out, freshman first baseman Jenna Sprinkle singled up the middle. That's when Head Coach Keith Parr called on Dillow.

"I tried to get Taylor an at bat on Friday but it didn't work out," Parr said. "She's a senior and I knew she would be ready. I am so proud of how we played today and how we kept fighting."

Dillow's home run kicked off the CNU celebration as the Captains wrapped up their fifth straight and 12th overall trip to NCAA play. All five runs scored in the game came by way of home runs.

Jenkins notched the win to improve to 7-1 on the season. She allowed two runs on six hits while walking three and striking out four. For Johnson, it was her second loss of the season in as many days. The Salisbury starter is now 18-2 after giving up three runs on six hits with six strikeouts.

The top-seeded Captains won all three of their games in the three-day tournament. CNU now leads the all-time series with Salisbury 31-28 with two ties.

Now, there is more waiting. The Captains and Sea Gulls will have to wait until Monday, May 5th, when the NCAA releases the bracket for the 2014 Softball Tournament. The Captains can rest easy knowing they will be there as Champions of the Capital Athletic Conference.