NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University and the University of Mary Washington split a softball doubleheader Friday at Captains Park. The Eagles won the opener, 2-0, and the Captains bounced back to take the nightcap, 13-0, in a game shortened to five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule. CNU, ranked second in the nation, is now 21-5 on the year while Mary Washington is 19-17 following the split on a hot and sunny day on the CNU campus.

CNU sophomore Kate Alger and UMW junior Caitlyn Burch opened the twin bill with dominant pitching performances. Both hurlers were perfect through the first three innings, each breezing through the opposing lineup the first time untouched. After Alger made it 12 straight by retiring the side in order in the top of the fourth, senior Abby Rochette finally broke through for the game's first hit, a single down the rightfield line, with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Burch would end up recovering with no damage done, and the squads headed to the fifth still scoreless.

Mary Washington changed that when junior Emma Schieda led off the fifth with a home run to center field, ending Alger's perfect game, no hitter, and shutout all with one swing. Junior Aminah Shakira would follow an inning later with a solo shot in the sixth for the Eagles, and the the two long balls proved to be the only runs of the game as UMW handed the Captains their second shutout loss at home this season.

Burch improved her record to 11-6 by pitching a complete game against the Captains, allowing just four hits while striking out six and walking two. She held the Captains at bay thanks to a line-drive double play in the fifth frame, a traditional double play in the sixth, and then ended the game by wiggling out of trouble, stranding two runners in the seventh. Alger also went the distance for CNU, yielding just two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. Her record fell to 11-2 for the season.

The nightcap saw a much different result as the Captains found their hitting stride and coasted to a 13-0 victory. Keith Parr's squad, the defending National Champions, opened the game with six runs in the first inning and plated seven more in the fourth. Sophomore left-hander Jamie Martin, the National Rookie of the Year last season, returned to the pitching circle following a foot injury and threw the first four innings, allowing no runs and just two hits while striking out four. She improved her record on the season to 6-2 with the win.

Freshman catcher Ellie Post and sophomore shortstop Kendall Bentley each homered in the second game as the Captains registered eight hits and benefited from five UMW walks. Post crushed a two-run shot in the big first inning, her third of the season, and Bentley ended the scoring with a grand slam in the fourth, her fifth blast of the year, to push the lead to 13-0. Senior Nicole Apai also delivered a two-run double in the opening inning to help the Captains break out to the big lead.

The Captains will be home again on Sunday, hosting Averett University at Captains Park. The doubleheader, the last currently scheduled home games of the regular season for the Captains, is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. following Senior Day ceremonies. Christopher Newport concludes the regular season next week by traveling to Roanoke on Tuesday for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30...and a twin bill next Sunday, April 30th, at Salisbury starting at 1:30 p.m. The Captains will return to Salisbury for the 2023 C2C Tournament, which will take place May 11-13.