UNION, N.J. - Christopher Newport bounced back after losing Sunday morning to Kean in the NCAA Softball Tournament. The Captains rallied to defeat Neumann to advance to the Union Regional Championship on Monday. CNU recorded a 5-1 victory over the Knights, and will play the host school, Kean University, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Monday morning at Cougar Field. CNU, seeded second in the regional, will have to beat the top-seeded Cougars twice to advance to the Super Regionals.

"I was impressed with the way we bounced back today," Head Coach Keith Parr said. "Obviously the first game didn't go the way we hoped it would, but I think we showed what we're made of in the second game. Our bats got going and we got good pitching, and we need to continue that on Monday against Kean."

The Captains were led by a solid effort in the pitching circle from senior Tara Heatwole, who went the distance allowing just one run while scattering seven hits. Heatwole stranded seven Neumann runners on base and improved to 11-5 with the win.

Junior third baseman Brittney Walters led the offensive attack, going three-for-three and blasting her fourth home run of the season. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning, Walters drove a double into the gap in right-center field scoring pinch-runner Abby Eichelberger to tie the game at 1-1. Walters then crushed a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning, scoring senior Jenna Sprinkle ahead of her to give the Captains a 3-1 advantage.

The Captains added two more in the fourth on an RBI groundout by freshman Grace Wild scoring freshman Tara Deck, who had led off the inning with a single. Junior Rachael Payne then completed the scoring in the game with a run-scoring single up the middle plating junior Leah Andrews, who had doubled earlier in the frame.

Christopher Newport's bats came alive after posting only four hits in the loss to Kean to open the day. CNU ended up out-hitting the Knights, 11-7, including five extra-base hits. Neumann had advanced to play the Captains by ousting Mount St. Mary in the second game of the day Sunday, 2-1. Neumann's season ends with a mark of 29-16.

The Captains are now 33-9, and will take on a Kean squad that is 35-7 and beat CNU earlier in the day Sunday, 7-2.

Christopher Newport is making its 11th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and 15th in the 33-year history of the program. The regional began on Friday when the Captains downed Mount St. Mary, 2-0. Saturday's action was rained out, pushing the regional title to Monday.