NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The 2018 softball season begins on Tuesday as the Captains host the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College. The non-conference doubleheader at Captains Park will begin at 4:30 p.m. CNU is ranked 14th in the country in the pre-season poll from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), while the Yellow Jackets are receiving votes in the poll.

The Captains, coming off a 34-10 record and 11th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, advanced to the final game of the NCAA regional last year at Kean University before being ousted by the host school. 

CNU leads the all-time series with Randolph-Macon, 16-4, but the Yellow Jackets took both games last season in Ashland. R-MC won by scores of 5-2 and 4-2 last March 16th.

Christopher Newport was picked first in the pre-season poll of coaches in the Capital Athletic Conference. The poll was released last Friday, and the Captains received 48 points and six first-place votes. Salisbury was picked to finish second followed by Frostburg State.

Heading into the 2018 campaign, the NFCA and Schutt Sports have included CNU senior Rachael Payne on its watch list for National Player of the Year honors. Payne, a shortstop from Stafford, Va., is one of 50 student-athletes selected from across the nation in Division III in consideration for the top award. Payne led the Captains last year with a .428 batting average and also topped the squad in runs scored (50), and hits (59). 

Keith Parr begins his 15th season leading the squad, and has won a school-record 474 games to just 153 losses with one tie. The 2018 season will be the 34th in CNU softball history, and the Captains have reached the NCAA Tournament 15 times.

Tuesday's games will be streamed live on CNUsports.com/live.