NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- The 2016 NCAA Division III Softball Championship is set to get underway Friday, and game times have been moved up in hopes of evading showers in the forecast.


The action at Captains Park is now set to begin at 10:00 a.m. as 11th-ranked Messiah takes on Ferrum. The tenth-ranked Captains are now set to play Ferrum in a 12:30 p.m. start on Friday.


The three-team double-elimination regional this weekend is part of the 62-team tournament field. Christopher Newport has advanced to the tourney for the tenth straight season. Keith Parr's squad is 34-7 entering NCAA play. The winner of the regional will be one of 16 teams to advance to the Super Regional round to be staged next weekend at a site to be determined.


Live stats and live video of the action from Captains Park will be available at cnusports.com/live.