NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- Junior Tara Heatwole recorded a complete-game shutout Friday afternoon, as the tenth-ranked Captains of Christopher Newport blanked Ferrum, 3-0, in the NCAA Tournament Regional at Captains Park. CNU is now 35-7, and will play 11th-ranked Messiah College as play resumes on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

Messiah downed Ferrum, 5-4, in the first game of the three-team regional on Friday at Captains Park. The Falcons are now 40-3 on the year and have won 16 straight games. CNU's triumph over the Panthers in the double-elimination tourney ended Ferrum's season with a 27-18 record.

Heatwole, a junior from Williamsburg, scattered six singles and didn't walk or strike out a Ferrum batter. She improved to 16-4 with the triumph.

The Captains scored the only run they would end up needing in the third inning when junior Rachael Shiflett scored pinch-runner Morgan Wooddell with a sacrifice fly to give the Captains a 1-0 edge. CNU posted two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth when junior Jenna Sprinkle singled home sophomore Brittney Walters and senior Tori Clarke to give the Captains the 3-0 final verdict.

Christopher Newport managed only eight singles off Ferrum starter Courtney Rudd, who stranded seven CNU runners. Rudd pitched all six innings for the Panthers and took the loss to fall to 14-9 on the year.

Senior outfielder Meagan Jones was the only CNU player with more than one hit. Jones, who has returned to the starting lineup following a wrist injury, reached base twice with bunt singles. 

CNU and Messiah will now battle for the regional title. Saturday two games will be played, and if either team is able to sweep, it will advance to the Super Regional round of 16 next weekend. If the teams split Saturday's games, the champion will be decided Sunday with a single game at 12:00 p.m.

The Captains and Falcons have split six previous games played. CNU knocked Messiah out of the tournament in 2010 with two wins over the Falcons the last time the schools met.

Messiah got off to a fast start Friday morning by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning against Ferrum, and then held on for a 5-4 victory. Senior pitcher Courtney Allen earned the victory for the Falcons and is now 23-0 on the season.