NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After inclement weather wreaked havoc over the last month of the season, the 13th-ranked Christopher Newport softball team showed no ill effects from the lengthy layoff as the team stormed past No. 5 Rowan, 9-0, before upending McDaniel, 13-3, during an impressive doubleheader sweep on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Captains Park.
 
Leading the offensive onslaught, Patty Maye Ohanian was perfect at the plate. The reigning All-American went 5-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored. She also worked a pair of walks and swiped two bags. Meanwhile, Tara Deck made a memorable season debut with five hits in six at bats. She also knocked in a pair during the twin bill.
 
Along with the five-hit phenoms, Grace Wild ripped a pair of doubles, while Sarah Proctor also had two extra-base hits, including a triple in the nightcap to ignite an early rally.
 
With the two victories, Christopher Newport improves to 3-1 on the season. The losses dropped Rowan to 1-1 and McDaniel to 0-2.
 
Facing the nationally-ranked Profs in the first game on Saturday, the Captains jumped all over Rowan. Right out of the gate, Bailey Roberts landed an early blow with a two-run double into the gap in right center. One inning later, Ohanian kept the momentum planted firmly on the CNU side with a screaming single up the middle, which chased in Deck and Emerald Cheesbrew to jumpstart a three-run rally.
 
While the offense was lighting up the scoreboard, Christopher Newport shined in all facets of the game. Emily Weatherholtz kept the Profs on their heels with a dazzling display in the circle. The sophomore struck out a pair in a pristine second inning and took advantage of some solid defensive work as well. Closing out a quick third frame, Roberts made a backhand stab on a shot down the third base line before firing a perfect dart across the diamond to cut down the batter.
 
With everything clicking, the Captains put the game out-of-reach in the third. Kicking off a four-run rally, Keely Crittenden and Caroline Helmer found themselves on the corners with one out. Taking off for second, Crittenden slid in safely before Helmer bolted home for the first run. Later, Crittenden completed the circuit with help from a Rowan throwing error before Calah Savage pounded a two-run single to left, which gave the hosts a 9-0 lead.
 
After that point, CNU rolled. In the fourth, Maddie Hool made a leaping snag at short on a rocket by the Profs to help end a minor threat. One inning later, Weatherholtz induced three fly balls to punctuate her second complete game shutout of the season.
 
Ohanian and Savage finished the opener with two hits apiece while combining for five RBI. Meanwhile, Weatherholtz wrapped up the contest with two strikeouts while scattering four hits. Combined with her 3-0 blanking of Emory & Henry on February 10, she is the first Captain to open a season with back-to-back shutouts since Tara Heatwole kicked off the 2016 campaign in equally impressive fashion.
 
Facing a quick turnaround, Christopher Newport fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first against McDaniel in the nightcap, but the hosts quickly retaliated. In the bottom of the frame, Proctor launched a missile off the leftfield fence, which she stretched into a leadoff triple. Two batters later, Ohanian pumped an RBI single to cut the deficit to one.
 
Putting a lid on the Green Terror attack, Trish Webb starred on the defensive side in the top of the second. The junior smothered a tough bounce on a laser to third before firing a seed across the diamond. Just two pitches later, she came charging in and fielded a short hop before retiring the next batter with ease during a quick inning by the Captains.
 
Looking to grab their first lead of the game, the hosts erupted in the bottom of the second. Wild opened the action with an RBI knock to right center. While circling first, she took a tumble but quickly regained her footing and scampered into second. Shaking off the fall, she showed the world she was fine after stealing third a few pitches later.
 
Continuing the rally, Deck smoked a single to left before Hool and Ohanian worked walks to load the bases. Stepping in, Savage made McDaniel pay. The junior jerked a single to right center, and the base runners did the rest. Showcasing tremendous instincts, all three runners came around to score on the three-run single, which gave Christopher Newport a 6-2 lead.
 
Holding an advantage, Aubrey Bates looked sharp in the circle. After the early rally by the Green Terror, the junior kept the McDaniel lineup quiet. She did not allow a ball to leave the infield in the second, third, or fourth. During that time, she made a nice play on a comebacker, while Roberts flashed her gun behind the plate by picking off a runner at first base to end the third inning.
 
Meanwhile, the offense put the game out-of-reach with two more rallies. In the third, Proctor and Ohanian both punched RBI singles to left. Then, in the fourth, the Captains plated five more, including run-scoring doubles by Wild and Kaitlyn Hasty.
 
Holding a 13-2 lead entering the top of the fifth, Christopher Newport had to battle for the final three outs. Refusing to go down quietly, the visitors sent six batters to the plate and scratched out their third run. However, Bates put an end to the threat.
 
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Bates sent a batter down swinging for the first out. Then, after getting ahead of the next hitter, she gloved a shot back to the circle and kick-started a beautiful 1-2-3- double play to put the final punctuation mark on her first win of the season.
 
Bates eventually finished with five strikeouts while scattering six hits during her complete game effort. Meanwhile, Deck, Proctor, Ohanian, and Wild all contributed three hits at the plate.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday when the Captains travel to N.C. Wesleyan for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
 
---CNU---