NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Christopher Newport University softball squad opened play Thursday in the first-ever Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Captains, seeded second in the six-team tournament, enjoyed a nine-run second inning and coasted to a 14-2 triumph over the Eagles of the University of Mary Washington at 5 Diamonds at Infinity Fields Softball Complex.

The start of the three-day double elimination tournament was delayed due to rain in the Milwaukee area Thursday morning and afternoon. The Captains, ranked tied for 12th in the country this week, were more than ready once play finally got under way almost six hours later than expected. Keith Parr's squad tallied 14 runs on 14 hits in a game that was shortened to five innings due to the eight-run rule. Mary Washington, seeded third, had beaten sixth-seeded Mount Mary earlier in the day to advance to the matchup with the Captains. 

Juniors Kaitlyn Hasty and Caroline Helmer got the run production started, each blasting solo home runs. Hasty smacked her ninth of the season in the first inning, and Helmer crushed her fourth of the year to open up the big second frame. All nine Captains in the starting lineup recorded at least one base hit, and eight posted runs batted in, led by three from senior Patty Maye Ohanian. 

Senior Emily Weatherholtz started for the Captains in the pitching circle, and threw the first two innings, allowing no runs or hits and striking out two. She was credited with the victory to improve to 14-3 on the year. 

Mary Washington fell to 11-17 with the loss. The Eagles will play an elimination game on Friday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time vs. fifth-seeded Finlandia.

Christopher Newport, now 27-10 on the year, will play top-seeded Salisbury on Friday at approximately 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. The Sea Gulls, tied for 12th in the country with the Captains this week, defeated Southern Virginia on Thursday, 9-1, in a game also shortened to five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule. Salisbury is now 22-7 so far this season. 

Friday's game will also be played on field 4 at the 5 Diamonds complex.