NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Two softball programs ranked in the top four in the nation square off for a twin bill Wednesday at Captains Park, as Christopher Newport University hosts Virginia Wesleyan University. The St. Patrick's Day doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.

Keith Parr's Captains were ranked fourth in the country last week, and are 13-5 so far this season. Christopher Newport is coming off a 2-2 weekend that saw them split doubleheaders with Transylvania University and Emory & Henry College in Emory, Va.

CNU features one of the top pitchers in the country, sophomore Gracie Vallejos, who has been named the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week in each of the first two weeks the honor has been given out. Vallejos is 7-1 with a 1.19 earned run average and has also picked up a save this season. Vallejos, from Fairfax, Va., has pitched 59 innings for the Captains so far, and has struck out 70 and walked just 18. 

The Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan enter play with a record of 13-1-1, and were ranked third in the nation last week. VWU won two games on Sunday in Winchester, defeating Shenandoah University by scores of 13-4 and 10-3. The Marlins also feature a top pitcher, graduate student Hanna Hull, who is 7-0 with an ERA of 0.89.

This will be the second time the Captains and Marlins square off in a doubleheader this season. Christopher Newport opened the 2021 campaign on Saturday, February 27th, playing the Marlins in Virginia Beach. VWU recorded victories in both games by scores of 2-0 and 11-8. 

You can watch the action live Wednesday here on CNUsports.com by clicking HERE. Live stats for the twin bill will also be available HERE.

Christopher Newport this week updated its spectator policy for spring, which can be viewed HERE.