COLUMBUS, Ga. - Christopher Newport continued play Saturday in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Leadoff Classic, scoring 34 times in convincing victories over Alma and Emory. The Captains, now 7-0, conclude play in the three-day tournament on Sunday.
Keith Parr's team began the day with a 17-0 triumph over Alma in a game shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule. CNU closed the game out with an 11-run fifth inning. Freshman pitcher
Olivia Kim threw the shutout, allowing just one hit over five innings and struck out four. She improved to 2-0 on the season.
Senior
Kaitlyn Hasty got the Captains off to a fast start by blasting a three-run home run in the first inning. Sophomore
Katie Currin smashed a solo home run in the third inning, and sophomore
Brooke Greaver added a two-run shot in the 11-run fifth frame. Ten different Captains contributed a total of 12 hits, as CNU upped its record to 6-0 and Alma fell to 5-6 on the year.
In the second game Saturday, the Captains again posted 17 runs in a 17-9 victory over Emory in a game that was shortened to six innings due to the mercy rule. After Emory came from behind with six runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at 9-9, Christopher Newport answered with six in the bottom of the fifth and then closed the game out with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
The Captains registered 17 hits to go with their 17 runs in the nightcap, led by Greaver, who singled, doubled and tripled. CNU crushed four home runs off Emory pitching, as freshman
Meredith Brickner opened the barrage with a two-run blast in the first inning. Senior
Sarah Proctor added a solo shot in the second frame, Currin hit her second of the day, a three-run shot,, in the fifth inning and freshman
McKenzie Presson wrapped up the day with a two-run walk off shot in the sixth.
Junior
Abby Rochette pitched the first five innings for the Captains, and earned the victory to improve to 2-0 on the year. Rochette allowed nine runs, but only one was earned due to three CNU errors. The win improved the Captains early-season record to 7-0, while Emory fell to 4-4.
Sunday's schedule has CNU taking on two schools from Claremont, California. The Captains will play Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 9:00 a.m. followed by an 11:00 a.m. start vs. Pomona-Pitzer.
