NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University completed its home softball season Saturday, winning both games of a doubleheader over the University of Mary Washington. The Captains honored six seniors prior to the twin bill at Captains Park, and then posted two 8-0 victories over the Eagles in Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference action. Both games ended after five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

All six seniors contributed to the two victories, which raised the Captains record to 24-10 overall and 4-2 in the C2C. Senior pitcher Emily Weatherholtz threw a five inning no-hitter in the opening victory for CNU, the 28th perfect game or no-hitter in program history. Weatherholtz faced 16 batters and threw just 54 pitches, allowing only one walk in the fourth inning. The Manassas native recorded four strikeouts as she posted her first career no-hitter, and improved her record for the season to 12-2. It was the first no-hitter of the season for the Captains. Last year, senior Aubrey Bates opened the season by no-hitting Roanoke, and senior Trish Webb threw a no-hitter against Randoph one week later in a tournament in North Carolina.

At the plate in the first game, senior Keely Crittenden made the most of her Senior Day by knocking in four runs on two singles and a sacrifice fly, as the Captains posted a run in the second inning, three in the third, and four in the fourth en route to the 8-0 triumph. Junior Caitlin Abernethy drove home two runs with a fourth inning single, and junior Sarah Proctor also brought home a run when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

In the nightcap, senior Patty Maye Ohanian crushed the only home run of the day, a solo shot that opened the scoring in the third inning. It was the 33rd of Ohanian's illustrious career, and the two-time All-American went on to drive in another run with a single as the Captains closed out the victory with a five-run fifth frame. Junior Caroline Helmer drove in two runs with a single and a double, and junior Bailey Roberts plated two with a double in the big fifth. Proctor also registered an RBI with a fourth inning double.

Sophomore Gracie Vallejos pitched all five innings in the second game, yielding no runs on just two hits. Vallejos improved her record to 11-4 as she struck out eight and allowed just one walk. Combined for the day, Weatherholtz and Vallejos threw ten innings of scoreless softball, giving up just two hits to the Eagles while striking out 12 and walking two.

Senior catcher Emerald Cheesbrew, senior shortstop Natalie Carmichael and senior second baseman Maddie Hool also had memorable Senior Day moments. Cheesbrew caught the entire no-hitter in the opener, and also reached base on a walk and stole a base. Hool made several sparkling defensive plays and singled, walked and scored a run. Carmichael was also outstanding at shortstop and recorded a single, scored a run, and stole a base.

Mary Washington fell to 7-15 overall and 1-5 in the C2C on a mild and cloudy day at Captains Park.

Christopher Newport will play a doubleheader this Wednesday at Bridgewater College, with the first pitch scheduled for 3:00 p.m. The teams played earlier this season on the Captains home field, and split a twin bill. The games will conclude the 2021 regular season for Keith Parr's squad, and the 14th-ranked Captains will open play in the first-ever Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament on May 6th in Waukesha, Wisconsin.