FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - Mary Washington came from behind on Friday to beat Christopher Newport, 5-4, as the Capital Athletic Conference best-of-three softball final series got underway. The Captains, now 31-7, will have to beat the Eagles twice on Saturday to capture the CAC crown.

The Captains, ranked ninth in the country and the second seed in the tourney, jumped to a 4-0 lead with all of the runs coming in the top of the third inning. Sophomore Patty Maye Ohanian cleared the bases with a three-run home run to get the scoring started. The blast was Ohanian's tenth of the season, and the squad's 54th of the year. Freshman Caitlin Abernethy later drove home the fourth run in the inning with a sacrifice fly to make it a 4-0 CNU lead.

The Eagles, top-seed in the tournament, then chipped away at the advantage by plating two runs in the bottom of the fourth frame off CNU starter Emily Weatherholtz. UMW tied the battle by scoring two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth off reliever Trish Webb to even things at 4-4. The Eagles then walked off with the triumph with two outs in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-4 final verdict.

Webb took the loss to fall to 8-4, and pitched the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. Just one of the three runs she gave up was earned due to a CNU error in the sixth inning leading to the game-tying run crossing the plate. Weatherholtz threw the first three innings, allowing two runs on three hits. 

Leadoff hitter Maddie Hool was the only Captain to record two hits in the game, both singles, as Mary Washington out-hit CNU, 10-6. UMW improved its record to 22-17 with the win, while Christopher Newport is now 31-7.

The Captains and Eagles return to action Saturday morning. Play begins at 10:00 a.m., and if the Captains can stretch the final to three games, the deciding tilt will start at approximately 12:00 p.m.