VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.- Christopher Newport, ranked fifth in the nation, split a non-conference softball doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Virginia Wesleyan College. The Captains won the opener by a 4-1 score, and lost the nightcap, 8-2. Keith Parr's squad is now 3-2.

CNU broke a 1-1 tie in the opening game when senior Sabrina Hill smacked a three-run home run in the fifth inning. It was Hill's second home run of the season, and propelled the Captains to the three-run victory, 4-1.

The Captains first run of the game came on junior Tori Clarke's RBI single in the fourth inning, plating junior Scoop Simon. CNU posted only three hits in the opener off Virginina Wesleyan's senior pitcher Kristina Karagiorgis, who went the distance allowing four runs on three hits with ten strikeouts.

Christopher Newport sophomore starter Krista Lewis threw a complete game in the opener to pick up the victory and improve to 2-1. Lewis scattered nine Marlins hits and allowed just a single run in the fourth inning.

In the second game, CNU jumped to a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the top of the third before the Marlins posted three runs in the bottom of the frame...and then put the game away with a five-run fourth inning en route to the 8-2 win. Junior Hanah Marshall took the loss to fall to 1-1 on the season.

Sophomore outfielder Rachael Shiflett scored both CNU runs in the nightcap and also recorded two singles. Clarke knocked in a run with a double in the fifth for her second RBI of the day.

Virginia Wesleyan is now 3-1 following the split at Marlins Field.

The Captains return to action on Wednesday with a non-conference doubleheader at Lynchburg College.