CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO GALLERY
CLICK HERE FOR TOURNAMENT PAGE

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Junior leftfielder Leah Andrews smashed a dramatic leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday morning, propelling Christopher Newport into the Capital Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday, Andrews broke a 2-2 tie with her sixth home run of the season as the Captains defeated Frostburg State, 3-2, for their 30th victory of the year.

CNU will play Mary Washington on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. for the tournament title and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles, seeded fifth in the five-team field, rallied to knock out both York and Frostburg State with a pair of come-from-behind victories Friday afternoon at Captains Park. Christopher Newport can wrap up the tournament with a single victory Saturday morning. Mary Washington would have to beat CNU twice to claim the title in the double elimination tournament.

The Captains never trailed in the game on a sun-drenched and warm day at Captains Park, opening the scoring with a third inning run-scoring single from freshman Liz Andrews that brought home junior Rachael Payne, who had doubled to lead off the inning. After Frostburg State tied the game with a run in the top of the fourth, freshman catcher Calah Savage clubbed her fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the fourth to put the Captains ahead, 2-1.

The Bobcats pulled even again in the top of the seventh, tying the game at 2-2 with a run-scoring infield grounder that sent the game to the bottom of the seventh. Leah Andrews stepped to the plate to lead off, and on the second pitch of the at bat, crushed a Hannah Tavik pitch to deep center field that carried over the fence and carried the Captains into the Championship. The home run was her second hit of the game, as Andrews had singled in the fourth inning and also had walked twice in her first two plate appearances of the day.

Senior starter Tara Heatwole earned the victory, throwing a complete game and allowing two runs while scattering seven hits. Heatwole is now 10-5 this year.

The Captains are now 30-8 on the season and have reached the 30-win plateau for the 11th straight season. Keith Parr's squad can advance to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th straight year by winning on Saturday over the Eagles. Mary Washington is now 25-19 after winning twice on Friday.

Christopher Newport and Mary Washington have played three times this season, and all three games have been won decisively by the Captains. Each game has been shortened by the eight-run rule, and CNU holds a 28-3 scoring advantage in the three triumphs. The teams met on Thursday on the opening day of the tournament, and the Captains posted a 9-0 victory in a game that was stopped in the sixth inning on a walk-off home run by Rachael Payne.

Saturday's Championship will be streamed live on CNUsports.com/live with live stats also available shortly before the 10:00 a.m. scheduled start.