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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - They've met 87 times over the years, and Friday the 38-year softball rivalry will continue in the Super Regional round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. Top-ranked Christopher Newport University, 40-1 and undefeated at home this season, plays host to ninth-ranked Virginia Wesleyan University (36-11) at Captains Park in the first game of a best-of-three series. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.
The Captains and Marlins both opened the 62-team tournament by winning three straight games last weekend to advance. CNU downed Wilson College and Messiah University twice to capture the Newport News Regional. VWU traveled to Amherst, Mass., and beat the University of Rochester, Husson University and Amherst College to move on to the round of 16. Now the programs will meet in a best-of-three format, with the winner advancing to the eight-team National Finals next week in Salem, Va.
"We're certainly excited to be where we are, but there's a lot more work to be done," Head Coach
Keith Parr said. "I believe in our team and I truly think we have the talent to beat anyone we go on the field with."
The Captains and Marlins met just once this season on March 23rd in Virginia Beach, with Christopher Newport notching a 6-1 victory. The second game of the planned doubleheader that day was postponed by rain. Virginia Wesleyan, defending National Champions and winners of three of the last four tournaments, leads the all-time series with the Captains, 49-38.
Both programs won their respective conference titles, with the Marlins prevailing in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and the Captains in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference. Virginia Wesleyan has won 11 of its last 12 games, while Christopher Newport has won 17 straight heading into Friday's action. CNU opened the year with a program-record 23-game winning streak before losing 8-5 at Averett University on March 27th in the second game of a twin bill.
Christopher Newport has been led by freshman lefthander
Jamie Martin, who has not allowed a run in the last 35 innings of work. After three shutout performances last weekend, Martin was selected the Most Outstanding Player of the Newport News regional. The Lorton, Va., product is now 18-1 on the season with an earned run average of 0.84, and was voted the Rookie of the Year this year in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference.
The Captains are led at the plate by senior outfielder
Caitlin Abernethy, who is batting .463 this season with a team-leading 57 base hits. Senior first baseman
Kaitlyn Hasty tops the nation in home runs with 18 and has driven in a team-high 61 runs.
Virginia Wesleyan was led last weekend by junior catcher Caitlin Myers, who was chosen the Most Outstanding Player of the Amherst regional in Massachusetts, Myers tops the Marlins this season in runs (40) and hits (56). Graduate student Julia Sinnett, VWU's third baseman, leads the Marlins in home runs with 9 and runs batted in with 57, and was named the Player of the Year in the ODAC this season. Sophomore Emily Seale leads the Marlins in the pitching circle with a 22-4 record this seasons and a 1.31 earned run average.
Following Friday's game, the teams will meet again at Captains Park on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. If needed, a deciding third game would be played on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets will go on sale at Captains Park for $10.00 (cash only) Friday and Saturday one hour before game time. Christopher Newport students will be admitted free of charge with a valid ID. Meanwhile, for those fans unable to attend the games, live stats and a video stream of the action will be available at CNUsports.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this story and on the schedule page.
Christopher Newport is appearing in its 19th all-time NCAA Tournament, and the 15th consecutive. The 40 wins recorded this year mark the second-highest win total in program history (CNU was 42-10 in the 2010 season).
