Box Score
SALISBURY, MD.- Christopher Newport's 17-game winning streak came to an end Friday evening, as the Sea Gulls of Salisbury held on for a 6-4 win in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament "Super-Regional." Salisbury is now a win away from advancing to the National Finals in Tyler, Texas, next week...while the Captains will now have to win twice on Saturday to take the best-of-three series.

The game was originally slated to begin at 1 p.m., but was delayed by rain for more than four hours. The teams will meet again on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., followed by a game at 3:30 if necessary.

When Friday's matchup of Capital Athletic Conference foes finally got underway at 5:02 p.m., the Sea Gulls, ranked fourth in the country, jumped to an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning off CNU freshman starter Makayla Jenkins. SU would add two more in the third, knocking Jenkins out of the game in favor of sophomore Hanah Marshall, who pitched well in relief after not seeing action in more than a month in the pitching circle.

The Captains, ranked fifth in the nation, got on the board with a run in the sixth inning off Salisbury junior starter Rachel Johnson. Senior rightfielder Kristina McLaughlin led off the inning with her second double of the day, and scored when freshman catcher Karlee Holzbach singled to left, making the score 3-1 Sea Gulls. The rally ended for CNU when freshman pinch-runner Stephanie Condenzio was thrown out on a play at the plate to end the inning. Condenzio was attempting to score from first on a double off the bat of sophomore second baseman Tori Clarke.

Salisbury finally got to Hanah Marshall in the bottom of the sixth inning, adding three more runs to give the Sea Gulls a 6-1 advantage. Sophomore designated hitter Paige Knussman registered two of her three RBI for the day with a triple down the rightfield line and sophomore third baseman Katie Sebbane singled home another run to give the Gulls a five-run cushion heading to the top of the seventh.

CNU would not go quietly, as the Captains mounted another rally off Johnson, the Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Two singles got the inning going from sophomore third baseman Alexis Pope and freshman leftfielder Rachael Shiflett. After a sacrifice and then a walk to pinch-hitter Kelsey Lewis to load the bases, junior first baseman Sabrina Hill delivered an RBI single to make the score 6-2. Salisbury Head Coach Margie Knight then made a pitching change, removing Johnson and replacing her with senior Kathryn Larson, who would face only two batters. Larson walked Karlee Holzbach to score Alexis Pope and make it a 6-3 game...and then gave up a single to senior designated hitter Taylor Dillow to cut the lead to two, 6-4.

Knight then swapped pitchers, bringing Rachel Johnson back in to face Tori Clarke. The strategy worked as Clarke flied to center to end the game and preserve the 6-4 Salisbury triumph.

"We just gave them too many opportunities," CNU Head Coach Keith Parr said following the defeat. "They had a couple of big innings and we lacked the execution to limit their offense. I liked our intensity and the way we fought...tomorrow is another day." Friday's game marked the 500th in Parr's coaching career.

Salisbury starter Rachel Johnson earned the win, running her record to 24-2 on the season. Johnson gave up 10 of CNU's 11 hits and walked two while striking out four. CNU starter Makayla Jenkins took the loss to fall to 8-2. Jenkins gave up three runs on eight hits in two and two-thirds innings of work. 

The Sea Gulls, now 39-3, finished with 13 hits off CNU pitching and left 10 runners on base. The Captains, 38-7 following the loss, posted 11 total hits, including two each from McLaughlin, Dillow and Shiflett, and stranded nine runners.

Saturday's action will begin at 1 p.m. with a much more favorable forecast. Partly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70's are called for as the squads vie for a shot to advance to the eight-team National Final in Tyler, Texas.