NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- Late Wednesday morning, the Christopher Newport softball team learned it had moved up to second in the country in Division III. The new ranking from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is believed to be the highest in the 32-year history of CNU softball.

Hours later, the Captains took the field and swept the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College at Captains Park by scores of 15-5 and 10-5. CNU is now 8-0 to start the season.

The Captains, who were ranked 12th in the country in pre-season, erupted for 25 runs on 27 hits in the twin bill.

CNU started the day looking like a national powerhouse, scoring nine times in the first inning of the opener en route to the five-inning 15-5 triumph. Junior outfielder Rachael Shiflett knocked in four runs with two hits, including a double. Junior Jenna Sprinkle drove in three runs with two hits, and seniors Hannah Cook and Scoop Simon each posted two hits and 2 RBI.

Junior Maiven McKnight entered the opener in relief and picked up the win to go to 3-0. McKnight retired five of six batters she faced as the Captains closed out the Yellow Jackets.

In the nightcap, junior Tara Heatwole upped her record to 3-0 by going the distance in a 10-5 CNU win. Heatwole scattered seven hits and retired ten straight batters in the late innings.

Senior Scoop Simon blasted her third home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first inning. Simon was four-for-four with four runs scored and four RBI in the doubleheader. Simon now leads the Captains in four major categories through eight games with a .476 average, three home runs, 12 runs batted in, and 11 runs scored.

Sprinkle had another big game at the plate, going two for three with two more runs batted in. The junior first baseman finished the day four for six with five RBI and two runs scored.

Randolph-Macon fell to 3-3 with the losses.

The Captains will put their perfect record on the line again on Friday, hosting Eastern Mennonite at Captains Park. The doubleheader will begin at 3:00 p.m.