NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Captains of Christopher Newport University broke out the big sticks again on Thursday, sweeping a softball doubleheader over William Peace University. CNU, the top-ranked team in the country for the fourth straight week, took the opener by a score of 10-2 in six innings, and then coasted to a 16-1 victory in five innings in the nightcap at Captains Park. Both games ended early due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Christopher Newport improved to 29-1, and crushed six home runs in the lopsided victories. The Captains, who lead the country in home runs per game, have now hit 58 in their first 30 games played. Senior catcher Bailey Roberts homered in both games on Thursday, and now has eight for the season.

Two-time All-American Kaitlyn Hasty got the day off on the right foot by blasting a three-run home run in the first inning of the opener. The shot was the 16th of the year for Hasty, and the 50th of her illustrious career, most-ever by a CNU player. Sophomore Brooke Childress, who drove home a run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly, cracked a solo shot in the fourth inning, her fourth of the year, and Roberts went deep with a two-run blast later in the fourth frame to put the Captains up, 8-2. 

The Captains closed out the opener when senior Caroline Helmer doubled home senior Caitlin Abernethy in the sixth inning, ending the game with a 10-2 final verdict. Freshman Jamie Martin pitched the first five innings, striking out six, and improved her record to 9-1 on the year with the win.

In the second game, the Captains mounted their biggest inning of the season, scoring 14 times in the second frame en route to a 16-1 triumph in five innings. CNU sent 17 batters to the plate in the big inning, and all 14 runs were unearned due to an error by the Pacers early in the inning. Two three-run home runs highlighted the big frame, the first from sophomore Brooke Greaver, her sixth of the season, and the second from Roberts, her eighth of the year and second of the day. Helmer also went yard, a solo blast in the third, her second of the year.

Martin entered the game in relief for the Captains in the third inning of the nightcap, and was credited with the victory, her second of the day. She raised her record to 10-1 on the year by striking out two of the three batters she faced in the third.

The Captains are now 17-0 at home this year, and have already passed their victory total from last season when they finished 28-14. CNU totaled 26 runs on 24 hits in the twin bill on a breezy and warm afternoon at Captains Park. William Peace fell to 23-10 with the defeats.

Christopher Newport heads to Fredericksburg Saturday for a doubleheader at the University of Mary Washington. The opening game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. CNU then returns home to host second-ranked Salisbury next Wednesday at Captains Park, with the action scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m.