NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The seventh-ranked Christopher Newport softball team blasted eight home runs, including two apiece by Patty Maye Ohanian and Kaitlyn Hasty, as CNU toppled Roanoke, 9-1 and 5-0, during a non-conference doubleheader on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Captains Park.

During the twin bill, Ohanian finished with four hits and four RBI, while Hasty also knocked in four runs. Meanwhile, Tara Deck, Grace Wild, Sarah Proctor, and Caroline Helmer all participated in the power display with home runs as well.

In the circle, the Captains were equally impressive. CNU did not surrender a single earned run during the doubleheader, including a seven-inning shutout by Aubrey Bates in the nightcap. Overall, three pitchers combined to strike out eight while scattering eight hits over 12 innings of work.

With the two victories, Christopher Newport improves to 15-1 on the season. The setbacks drop Roanoke to 10-5.

In the opener, Emily Weatherholtz quieted the Maroons before her offense took over. The sophomore pitcher worked out of a minor jam in the first with a strikeout and a soft pop up to short. Then, in the second, she retired the side in order with some help from Natalie Carmichael, who made a lunging stab on a screamer up the middle.

Looking to light up the scoreboard, the Captains unloaded in the bottom of the second. Hasty kicked off the rally with a blistering two-run shot to left center. Three batters later, Deck followed with her own two-run tank after lofting a high-arcing rainbow that dropped over the leftfield fence.

With four runs across the plate, the hosts tacked on two more after Proctor legged out a triple before Wild walked. With runners on the corners, Ohanian smacked a double to dead centerfield to cap off the six-run inning.

Staring at a 6-0 deficit, the Maroons attempted to respond in the top of the third after loading the bases with three straight singes. With two outs, Proctor put an end to the threat after the speedy centerfielder tracked down a deep fly ball that looked destined to split the gap in right center.

After brushing aside Roanoke's response, the Captains went back to work on the offensive side. Helmer smashed a solo home run to center in the bottom of the third. One inning later, Ohanian launched her own scorcher to left center, which disrupted lacrosse practice and nearly took out a goal that was stationed on the grass field well behind the fence.

Although Roanoke scratched out an unearned run in the top of the fifth, Hasty quickly put an end to the contest in the bottom of the inning. On an 0-1 offering, the freshman cranked a walk-off home run to center, which iced the 9-1 victory.

Weatherholtz earned the win after striking out a pair in four spotless innings. Trish Webb came in to clean up the contest with a solid effort in the fifth. Meanwhile, Ohanian and Hasty both finished with two hits and three RBI, and Bailey Roberts reached base safely twice after working a pair of walks.

Coming off an impressive win in the first game, the Captains followed an identical script early in the second contest. First, the squad quieted the Roanoke lineup as the defense stepped up early. In the first frame, Calah Savage flashed her gun from behind the dish after cutting down a runner that wandered a little too far off the bag at second. Later, Carmichael made another excellent play at shortstop after ranging deep into the hole before firing a strike across the diamond.

Meanwhile, the offense once again came to life in the second. After Hasty opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first, the lineup found its rhythm in the next frame. Deck kicked off the rally with a single to left before Proctor unloaded on a 2-2 offering while smacking her third home run of the season. Just four pitches later, Wild followed with a ringing home run to left that tattooed the scoreboard and gave the hosts a 4-0 lead.

From there, Bates cruised. The junior sent down the side in order in the fourth and sixth. She also worked out of jams in the third and fifth after inducing a pair of lazy pop ups to short. 

After Ohanian handed the squad a 6-0 edge with another solo rocket in the fifth, Bates put the finishing touches on her gem. She eventually retired the final eight batters of the game, including a pop up back to the circle for the final out that put the perfect punctuation mark on her appearance.

Overall, Bates struck out six and allowed just two infield singles to the Maroons. Meanwhile, Wild and Ohanian both notched a pair of hits, while Carmichael legged out an infield knock and swiped a pair of bags during a nice showcase in the fourth inning.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday when the squad hosts a doubleheader against William Peace beginning at 3:30 p.m.

---CNU---