NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- Christopher Newport dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader to Virginia Wesleyan College Wednesday night at Captains Park. The eighth-ranked Marlins won the opener, 5-4, and then took the nightcap, 4-2, over the fourth-ranked Captains. Both teams are now 19-4 following the twin bill.

CNU never held the lead in either game Wednesday, as the Marlins extended their winning streak to eight games.

In the opener, the Captains came from behind to tie the game twice, only to lose on a long ball in the seventh inning. Sophomore Lia Batchelor smacked a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to even the game, 4-4. It was Batchelor's second home run of the season. But Marlins sophomore Cassetty Howerin provided the winning margin with a solo shot in the top of the seventh inning off CNU reliever Maiven McKnight for the 5-4 final. McKnight suffered her first loss of the season and fell to 5-1 in relief of starter Hanah Marshall, who pitched the first four innings and gave up four runs, three earned, and four hits.

In the second game, Howerin drove in the first two runs for the Marlins, the second with her second home run of the day in the fourth inning to give VWC a 2-0 edge. Sophomore Leah Andrews drove in sophomore Rachael Payne with a single in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 2-1, but the Marlins added two more runs in the top of the sixth to open a 4-1 lead. Sophomore Brittney Walters singled home a run in the bottom of the sixth, but CNU's comeback fell short in the 4-2 defeat.

Freshman Kandis Kresinske picked up the victories in both games for the Marlins, and is now 9-1 on the season. Kresinske threw a complete game in the nightcap, allowing just two runs on six hits with six strikeouts after winning the opener in relief.

Junior Tara Heatwole took the loss in game two for the Captains, giving up four runs on six hits while going the distance. She is now 7-2 on the season.

The Captains scored just six runs on 11 hits in the doubleheader, and are now 11-3 at home this season.

CNU hits the road this weekend for two Capital Athletic Conference doubleheaders in Pennsylvania. The Captains play at York College on Saturday, and then at Penn State-Harrisburg on Sunday.