NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University split a softball doubleheader Sunday in the Grand Slam Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C. The Captains, who opened the season with two victories on Saturday, are now 3-1 to start the season.

CNU, the top-ranked team in the nation after winning its first National Championship last season, dropped a 3-2 decision to 11th-ranked Case Western Reserve University (OH) in the first game of the day. The Captains bounced back, and sophomore pitcher Kate Alger threw a no-hitter as Christopher Newport posted a 4-0 victory over Bethany College (WV) in the second game.

The day began with a 10:00 a.m.start, and three errors committed by the Captains led to all three runs scored by Case Western in the 3-2 defeat. CNU starter Jamie Martin threw all six innings, and yielded just three unearned runs on three hits while striking out seven. Martin took the hard-luck loss to fall to 1-1.

After falling behind, 2-0, in the first inning, the Captains responded by tying the game in the second on a two-run home run off the bat of senior Abby Rochette. Unfortunately, it was all the offense could produce and Case Western broke the 2-2 tie with another unearned run in the third frame that proved to be the game-winner.

Later in the afternoon, the Captains took the field against Bethany and Alger took over in the pitching circle. The sophomore right-hander dominated, facing the minimum of 21 batters and striking out 13. All that separated her performance from a perfect game was an error committed by the Captains on a bunt by the leadoff hitter in the first inning. While the miscue allowed a base-runner, the Captains turned a double play and Alger sailed through the Bethany lineup the rest of the game.

The Captains scored all the runs Alger would need when junior Katie Currin blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. CNU would add single runs in the second and fifth innings en route to the 4-0 victory.

Alger made two starts in the four games played in the Classic this weekend in Raleigh. She threw two complete games (all 14 innings), allowing just one run on three hits while striking out 25 batters and walking just one, registering victories over sixth-ranked Belhaven as well as Bethany.

Keith Parr's squad will now prepare for its home opener this Thursday at Captains Park. CNU will host Pfeiffer in a single game kicking off the Cross Bay Bash. The action is set to get underway at 3:00 p.m.