NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The message you can take from Sunday's doubleheader at Captains Park might be this ... don't ever count the Captains out. Christopher Newport trailed Pfeiffer by a 4-1 score, and later fell behind Salisbury by a 5-1 margin. Keith Parr's squad somehow managed to come from behind and record victories in both games on its home field on a sunny and chilly late afternoon.

The Captains, who improved to 7-3 on the year, rallied to defeat Pfeiffer by an 11-6 score and then concluded the weekend with a 6-5 triumph under the lights over Salisbury. Christopher Newport utilized a five-run third inning to bounce back against the Falcons in the opening game, and then registered a four-run fifth frame to rally against the Sea Gulls. In all, the Captains won three of four games over the busy weekend.

In the opener against Pfeiffer, the Captains actually opened the scoring with a first inning run on an RBI double off the bat of junior Caitlin Abernethy. After the Falcons posted two in the second and two more in the third to go ahead, 4-1, CNU surged ahead thanks to a five-run third frame. The runs came home courtesy of two big hits, a double from junior Bailey Roberts and a three-run home run cracked by junior Caroline Helmer. The big inning put the Captains in front, 6-4, and they wouldn't fall behind again in the game.

The Captains added three more runs in the fifth and two in the sixth en route to the 11-6 victory. Senior Emerald Cheesbrew smacked a solo home run in the fifth and recorded an RBI double in the sixth. Abernethy drove home two more runs with a fifth inning single and junior Sarah Proctor closed out the scoring with an RBI single in the sixth.

Senior Emily Weatherholtz pitched the first six innings, earning her third victory of the season in as many decisions. Weatherholtz allowed four earned runs and scattered nine hits.

In game two vs. Salisbury, Abernethy opened the scoring in the first again with an RBI groundout before the Sea Gulls jumped in front with a four-run second inning and a solo run in the fourth to take a 5-1 advantage. Christopher Newport's big inning, a four-run fifth, evened the game at 5-5. Roberts got the scoring started when she walked with the bases full. Helmer then followed with an RBI single, and Cheesbrew brought home another run with a sacrifice fly. Salisbury's defense then committed an error allowed the tying run to come home. The Captains would add the decisive run in the sixth thanks to another error by the Sea Gulls for the 6-5 decision.

Sophomore Gracie Vallejos pitched a complete game in the nightcap, improving her record to 4-1 on the season. Vallejos allowed three earned runs on ten hits and struck out seven.

Christopher Newport returns to play on Tuesday, hosting the Cougars of Averett University at Captains Park. The first game is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. start.