COLUMBUS, Ga. - Christopher Newport continued its winning ways on Sunday, sweeping two more games in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Leadoff Classic. The Captains defeated two California schools to take the Championship of the three-day event, going 6-0 over the long weekend.

Keith Parr's squad opened the day with an 8-1 triumph over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and then blanked Pomona-Pitzer, 11-0, to improve to 9-0 to start the year. Both games Sunday were halted after five innings due to the mercy rule.

Freshman Kate Alger threw another gem in the second game vs. Pomona-Pitzer, going all five innings in the circle and allowing no runs on just three hits while striking out seven. She earned her second win of the weekend after taking a perfect game into the seventh inning vs. Trine on Friday as the Captains posted a 5-0 win. 

CNU posted 11 runs on ten hits vs. Pomona-Pitzer, with two more home runs. Junior Bailey Roberts crushed a solo home run in the first inning, providing the only run the Captains would end up needing. Senior Sarah Proctor also connected for a two-run blast in the fourth frame. Proctor also singled twice to go 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three runs batted in.

The Captains are no strangers to fast starts. CNU won its first 12 games to start the 2020 season, going 12-1 before the season came to an early end due to the CoVID pandemic. 

Christopher Newport, ranked 19th in the NFCA's pre-season coaches poll, will play at home for the first time in 2022 on Friday. The Captains will open the Cross Bay Bash, a two-day tournament, at 12:30 Friday vs. Berry College (Ga.). CNU will play two games Friday and two on Saturday at Captains Park, and a total of seven games will be played over the two-day tourney on CNU's home turf.