NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport softball closed out its weekend schedule by splitting two games Sunday at Emory & Henry College. The Captains won their first game, defeating Transylvania University, 8-0, in a game shortened to five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule. Keith Parr's squad then dropped a 10-8 decision to Emory & Henry in the nightcap to fall to 13-5 on the season, and concluded a 2-2 weekend in Emory, Va.

Christopher Newport recorded three home runs, all in the second inning, Sunday morning in the first game of the day as they went on to shut out Transylvania, 8-0. Juniors Kaitlyn Hasty and Bailey Roberts each connected for solo shots, and freshman Katie Currin later crushed a two-run blast resulting in a 4-0 lead over the Pioneers after two innings. The Captains would go on to add four more runs to cruise to the 8-0 triumph.

Sophomore pitcher Gracie Vallejos would not need all the run support, throwing five frames of shutout ball to improve her record to 7-1 on the season. Vallejos yielded just two walks and four hits while striking out five in as many innings. Vallejos lowered her season's earned run average to 1.19 with the shutout performance, and has now struck out 70 batters in 59 innings of work with only 18 walks.

Christopher Newport got off to a rough start in the second game, falling behind 9-3 after two innings against the Wasps of Emory & Henry. A furious comeback bid fell short in a 10-8 final verdict. The Wasps scored five in the first and four more in the second inning. The Captains plated three in the fifth and two in the sixth, but fell short to fall to 13-5 on the season.

Sophomore Taylor Yokum drove in three runs in the nightcap for the Captains, thanks to a walk with the bases full in the fifth followed by a double in the sixth that brought home a pair. The Captains scored eight runs but managed to post only five hits against E&H pitching. Senior starter Emily Weatherholtz didn't make it out of the second inning and took the loss to fall to 5-2 on the year.

Emory & Henry is now 10-2 on the season, while Transylvania is 9-2 following the weekend's action. All three teams taking part in the weekend action in Emory won two and lost two.

The Captains, ranked fourth in the country in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) weekly poll last week, will look for some revenge when they host third-ranked Virginia Wesleyan this Wednesday at Captains Park, with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Christopher Newport opened its season on February 27th at Virginia Wesleyan, and the Marlins were victorious in both games of the twin bill.



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