NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A busy stretch of action continues Wednesday at Captains Park for the Christopher Newport University softball squad. The defending National Champions will host local rival Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday afternoon. The doubleheader will begin at 3:00 p.m. at Captains Park.

Keith Parr's team, ranked atop the pre-season poll from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), dropped to the second spot in the new poll released on Tuesday. CNU is 6-2 following a 3-1 weekend in the Cross Bay Bash, while Virginia Wesleyan is 7-3 heading into Wednesday's twin bill. The Captains are now second in the weekly national poll behind fellow Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference member Salisbury. The Sea Gulls are off to a 14-0 start to the season.

CNU and Virginia Wesleyan have had a rich history on the softball field over the years. The schools have met 89 times in all, with the Marlins holding a 49-40 advantage in the series. Christopher Newport has won the last three games, and four of the last five. The most recent battles came on May 20th and 21st in last year's best-of-three NCAA Tournament Super Regional, won by the Captains by scores of 3-2 and 5-2 in nine innings at Captains Park. The pair of victories propelled CNU to the National Finals in Salem, where the Captains captured their first National Championship.

Wednesday's action will be streamed live and can be viewed by clicking HERE.

Following the Wednesday's double dip with the Marlins, the Captains will host a second Cross Bay Bash this weekend at Captains Park. CNU will take on Husson for two on Friday at Captains Park beginning at 2:30 p.m., and then will play twice on Saturday, with one game vs. Stockton at 12:30 p.m. and then another single game against Randolph-Macon at 5:30 p.m. Stockton will also play Randolph-Macon at Captains Park Saturday with a start time scheduled for 3:00 p.m.