NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport and Roanoke split a non-conference softball doubleheader Sunday at Captains Park. The Maroons won the opener in eight innings, 3-1, while the 11th-ranked Captains bounced back to take the nightcap, 2-0.

CNU, now 12-6, got solid pitching performances from freshman Aubrey Bates in the opener and senior Maiven McKnight in game two. Bates allowed just one earned run in eight inning of work and struck out six, taking a hard-luck loss to fall to 5-2 for the year. McKnight threw a complete-game shutout allowing just two hits while leading the Captains to the 2-0 triumph. McKnight is now 4-0 on the season.

The Maroons grabbed the opener, 3-1, thanks to a two-run eighth inning. Roanoke starter Teresa Wagner allowed just four hits to the Captains, and improved to 5-0 on the season. Emily Salsberry came in with the potential game-tying runs on base and recorded the final out of the eighth to earn her first save of the year.

Roanoke plated a run in the top of the first and held a 1-0 lead until the Captains tied the game in the fifth. Junior Savannah Couch doubled home freshman Abby Eichelberger, who had entered the game as a pinch-runner, to even the game at 1-1.

In the second game, the Captains broke open a scoreless battle in the bottom of the sixth inning when senior Rachael Shiflett doubled home junior Brittney Walters and freshman Grace Wild for the game's only runs.

Roanoke is now 11-5 following the split on a sunny and chilly day at Captains Park.

Christopher Newport opens Capital Athletic Conference play on Saturday with a twin bill at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. CNU then returns home next Sunday to host Penn State-Behrend at Captains Park in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.