NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The second-ranked Captains of Christopher Newport travel to Raleigh, N.C., for six games this weekend in the Grand Slam Triangle Classic. Keith Parr's squad plays two games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The Captains, 4-0 to start the season, will begin play at 1:00 p.m. on Friday against Arcadia. They will then play at 3:00 p.m. Friday afternoon against Piedmont. 

Action will continue on Saturday as the Captains take on Emory at 12 noon, followed by a 2:30 matchup with Randolph. On Sunday, the tourney concludes with a 9:30 a.m. start against Rowan followed by a 12:30 p.m. game vs. McDaniel.

Christopher Newport is ranked second in the country in the first weekly poll from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The Captains, after sweeping Roanoke and Emory & Henry last weekend, trail only defending National Champion Texas Lutheran in the poll released Wednesday morning.

Keith Parr's squad was ranked eighth in the nation in the pre-season poll from the NFCA. The Captains received the first number one weekly ranking in program history last year en route to a 39-7 final record and a trip to the NCAA Super Regional round.

Christopher Newport was led last weekend by the strong pitching of senior Aubrey Bates, who won two of the four games. Bates did not allow an earned run in 13 innings of pitching and gave up just one hit. She threw a no-hitter in the first game of the season at Roanoke. For her efforts, Bates was chosen the Pitcher of the Week in the Capital Athletic Conference this week.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Hasty also picked up where she left off last season. The CAC's Player and Rookie of the Year had eight hits in 15 at bats over the weekend for a .533 average with a home run and seven runs batted in. Senior Grace Wild also started impressively, posting six hits in 13 at bats (.462) with three doubles and six RBIs.