NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University took both ends of a Wednesday softball doubleheader, beating Randolph-Macon College by scores of 4-3 in eight innings in the first game and 9-4 in the nightcap. Keith Parr's squad, ranked 11th in the country, now has a record of 22-8 on the season.

The Captains and Yellow Jackets opened the twin bill with a pitcher's duel at Captains Park on a sunny and mild afternoon. Seniors Emily Weatherholtz of CNU and Madie Rhoads of R-MC sailed through the first three innings, not allowing a run. The Yellow Jackets broke the scoreless tie by plating two runs in the top of the fourth inning, only to have the Captains come from behind. CNU scored its first run in the bottom of the fourth on a fielder's choice off the bat of junior Sarah Proctor. The Captains then went to the bottom of the seventh trailing by a run, and managed to pull even and send the game to extra innings thanks to a double steal. Sophomore Kensley Hess, charging home from third, managed to cross the plate before the tag was applied at second base to even the game at 2-2.

The Yellow Jackets, ranked 19th in the nation this week, went back in front in the top of the eighth by virtue of a fielder's choice ground ball, taking a 3-2 advantage. The Captains again would rally in the bottom of the frame, as junior Caitlin Abernethy delivered a two-run game-winning single, scoring senior Patty Maye Ohanian and pinch runner Nicole Apai as the Captains pulled out the 4-3 triumph.

Weatherholtz went the distance in the circle, and improved her record to 11-2 on the season. She allowed just two earned runs, and scattered five hits while striking out three. Rhoads also went the distance for the Yellow Jackets, yielding three earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. She fell to 5-4 with the loss.

In the nightcap, the Captains opened up a tight game by scoring five times in the fifth inning to claim a 6-0 lead. Junior Kaitlyn Hasty delivered a two-run triple in the big inning, and senior Maddie Hool, junior Bailey Roberts and Abernethy all contributed run-scoring singles. Randolph-Macon bounced back thanks to a grand slam home run off the bat of senior Ali Celiberti in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 6-4. Celiberti's long ball was the only home run by either team during the twin bill.

The Captains added three more in the bottom of the sixth to secure the 9-4 triumph. Hasty knocked in two more runs with a double, giving her three hits and four runs batted in for the game. 

Sophomore Gracie Vallejos threw the first six innings of game two for the Captains, and earned the win to improve to 10-4 for the year. She allowed no earned runs and six hits while striking out eight. Vallejos now has recorded 107 strikeouts this season, and is the first CNU pitcher since Whitney Haller in 2012 to go over the 100-strikeout mark. R-MC starter Celiberti took the loss to fall to 5-3. The Yellow Jackets are now 10-7-1 following the two defeats.

Christopher Newport heads on the road this weekend for Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference play. The Captains travel to Salisbury, Md., to take on the Sea Gulls of Salisbury University on Saturday. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.