NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- The offense took a while to get going following a 19-day break, but the pitching was solid from the start Friday as Christopher Newport's softball team opened play in the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore Krista Lewis threw a two-hit shutout as CNU defeated Salem College at Captains Park, 6-0.

The 11th-ranked Captains will play Randolph-Macon Saturday at 12:00 p.m. as the regional continues. The Yellow Jackets downed Ramapo, 8-6 in nine innings, in the first game of the day Friday at Captains Park.

Lewis, who improved to 14-5 on the season, faced just 23 batters, two above the minimum. She struck out five and gave up just two doubles, one in the first and the other in the fourth inning. 

Salem's Breanna Morris held the Captains scoreless until the fifth inning when freshman third baseman Brittney Walters doubled home the first run of the game, and what turned out to be the only run the Captains would need. CNU would then bat around in the sixth inning, adding five more runs, to complete the 6-0 victory. Junior catcher Hannah Cook cracked a two-run home run, her fifth of the season, and juniors Meagan Jones and Scoop Simon as well as freshman Brittney Walters delivered RBI hits.

CNU improved to 28-7 with the win, while Salem fell to 20-15-2. The Spirits will play Ramapo Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in the first elimination game of the regional.

It is the ninth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament for the Captains, and the 13^th in program history. CNU is now 26-24 all-time in NCAA action.

Christopher Newport will play a Randolph-Macon squad that is making its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. The teams split a doubleheader earlier this season in Ashland. The Yellow Jackets are Champions of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
 
The Captains won both the Capital Athletic Conference regular-season title and post-season tournament championship. Keith Parr's squad has now won 17 of its last 18 games, and CNU is ranked 11^th in the nation.

Three games are scheduled for Saturday in the double-elimination regional. Times are set for 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. Sunday's Championship will begin at 12:00 p.m.
 
Tickets will again be available Saturday at Captains Park for $5.00 general admission and $3.00 for students, children, and senior citizens. CNU students will be admitted free with valid ID.

Live video coverage as well as live stats for all games this weekend will be available at CNUsports.com/live.

The official regional website can be found at http://www.cnusports.com/sports/2015/5/5/NCAARegional2015.aspx?path=softball

The winner of the regional will advance to a super regional next weekend at a site to be determined. The winners of the eight super regionals will then travel to Salem, Virginia, to play in the finals May 21-25.