NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- Christopher Newport's softball team outlasted Randolph-Macon as well as two lengthy rain delays Sunday for an 11-6 victory. The Mother's Day triumph at Captains Park completed the NCAA Regional Title for CNU, and means the 11th-ranked Captains will meet CAC conference rival Salisbury next weekend in a best-of-three Super-Regional series.

Junior lefthander Hanah Marshall was named MVP of the Regional. Marshall earned her second win in as many days over the Yellow Jackets, coming into the game in the first inning in relief and pitching the rest of the way.

CNU posted three home runs in the title tilt, which was delayed twice by heavy rain. The first stoppage halted play for an hour and 20 minutes, and a second came with just one out to go in the top of the seventh inning...halting the action for an hour and 49 minutes before the Captains closed out the victory.

Christopher Newport is now 30-7, marking the ninth straight season the Captains have reached the 30-win plateau. It is also the ninth straight NCAA appearance for CNU. The Captains won three straight games over three days to capture the crown, beating Salem College and Randolph-Macon twice.

Sunday's Regional Championship did not start well for the Captains, as Randolph-Macon scored four runs in the top of the first inning...chasing CNU starter Krista Lewis from the circle. Head Coach Keith Parr called on Marshall in relief, and she proceeded to hold down Randolph-Macon, allowing the Captains to climb back into the game. CNU plated three runs in the third inning and four in the fourth to take the lead for good.

Junior Scoop Simon smacked a grand slam home run accounting for all four runs in the fourth, giving the Captains a 7-4 advantage. Simon, who transferred to CNU from Randolph-Macon prior to this season, also recorded a double in the game and was named to the All-Tournament squad.

Freshman shortstop Rachael Payne smacked a three-run home run in the fifth inning, and senior first baseman Sabrina Hill also cracked a home run, a solo shot in the sixth frame, to close out the scoring. For Hill, it was her 40th career home run, most of any active student-athlete in Division III.

Marshall struck out seven and allowed just two runs over six and a third innings of work. She threw a complete-game Saturday, giving up just two unearned runs to the Yellow Jackets. Marshall is now 16-2 on the season.

In addition to Marshall and Simon, junior catcher Hannah Cook, and junior second baseman Tori Clarke were also named to the All-Tournament squad.

Randolph-Macon, appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time, finished the season with a 28-12 record. The Yellow Jackets completed a suspended game Sunday morning before playing in the title game. R-MC ousted Salem, 8-6 in 12 innings, in a game that was stopped by darkness Saturday night.

Christopher Newport will now meet Salisbury at a site to be determined by the NCAA beginning next Friday. The Captains won all three meetings with the Sea Gulls this season, including a 7-4 victory in the CAC Championship Game.