UNION, N.J. - The season came to an end for the Christopher Newport softball team Monday, as the 11th-ranked Captains were defeated by 13th-ranked Kean University in the NCAA's Union Regional. The Cougars posted a 4-1 victory in the second game of the day after CNU had recorded a 3-2 victory to force the deciding game in the double-elimination regional.

The Captains, the home team in the nightcap,  held a 1-0 lead for most of the second game, as senior starter Tara Heatwole sailed through the first five and two-thirds innings throwing shutout ball. With two outs in the top of the sixth, Kean rallied and posted three runs to grab the lead. Dana Knapp drove home two runs with a double to left-center and Jackie Riley followed with an RBI single to give Kean a 3-1 edge. The Cougars would add another insurance run in the seventh for the 4-1 final verdict.

Heatwole, who recorded a complete-game victory over Neumann on Sunday to keep the team's hopes alive, had retired eight straight hitters prior to the outburst in the sixth and ended up yielding four runs on eight hits. Her record for the season finished at 11-6.

CNU opened the game by scoring in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior Jenna Sprinkle, scoring freshman Grace Wild with what would prove to be the Captains only run of the deciding game. The Captains managed only three hits off Kean starter Shannon McMahon, who went the distance and improved to 25-3.

Christopher Newport ends the season with a mark of 34-10, and the Captains ended up going 3-2 over the weekend in New Jersey. Kean is now 36-8 and will advance to play Virginia Wesleyan in the Super Regional Round of 16 next weekend.

The 2017 season was the 33rd in CNU softball history, and marked the 11th straight season the Captains advanced to the NCAA Tournament and the 15th in all. It was also the 11th straight year the Captains won 30 or more games. CNU captured both the regular and post-season championships in the Capital Athletic Conference.

The Captains earlier in the day Monday sent the double-elimination regional to the second game finale as senior Maiven McKnight threw a complete game, allowing just two runs on 11 hits. McKnight stranded ten Kean baserunners, including two in the bottom of the seventh inning, and recorded her only strikeout of the day for the game's final out. She improved her record to 11-1 on the season with the victory.

Liz Andrews, the Freshman of the Year in the Capital Athletic Conference, delivered the key hit for CNU. In the top of the fifth inning with the Captains trailing, 2-1, Andrews smacked a single to right-center field with the bases loaded, scoring both junior Leah Andrews and freshman Grace Wild, to put the Captains ahead 3-2.

From there, McKnight wiggled out of jams in both the sixth and seventh innings to preserve the victory on a sunny and windy day at Cougar Field.

Leah Andrews drove in the Captains first run of the day with an RBI single in the third inning, scoring pinch-runner Abby Eichelberger to give CNU a 1-0 lead. Kean then jumped ahead in the bottom of the third with two runs on a double by Dana Knapp, 2-1.Shannon McMahon went the distance for the Cougars allowing three runs on eight hits and took the loss.

The completion of the regional marked the final action for four Christopher Newport seniors. Pitchers Maiven McKnight and Tara Heatwole, first baseman Jenna Sprinkle, and centerfielder Rachael Shiflett were all key contributors in their final games wearing a CNU uniform.
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