NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University took a Sunday softball doubleheader in dominant fashion, shutting out Averett University by scores of 11-0 and 16-0 on a sunny and pleasant day at Captains Park. Sophomore pitcher Kate Alger didn't allow a hit in the opener, and both games were shortened to five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule as the Captains scored 27 times on 23 base hits.

Four members of the squad were honored before the twin bill Sunday on Senior Day, as CNU played its final regular-season home games of 2023. The pair of victories gave Keith Parr's squad a record of 23-5 on the year, while the Cougars fell to 7-27.

Alger opened the day by throwing another gem, facing just 18 batters over five frames, striking out eight and allowing no hits and just two walks. She upped her record to 12-2 by hurling her second no-hitter of the season and her career. Earlier this season on March 5th, Alger no-hit Bethany College in the Grand Slam Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C.

Senior Kensley Hess stepped into a starting role in both games on Senior Day and made the most of it. The outfielder, known primarily for her base-running prowess, went three-for-six in the twin bill. Hess knocked in four runs in the opener with a two-run home run in the second inning, her first of the year and fourth of her career, and a two-run double later in the fourth. Fellow senior Nicole Apai also had a big day, and plated a run with a fourth inning RBI single, and junior Bianca Palmer-Scott, who will be graduating early and is playing in her final season with the Captains, also drove home a run with a fourth inning single. Fellow senior Abby Rochette also had two hits, a single and a double, in the opener. Freshman catcher Ellie Post crushed a three-run home run in the third inning as the Captains coasted to the 11-0 victory. CNU scored in all four frames and registered 11 hits to go with 11 runs.

In the second game, Christopher Newport scored eight times in the second inning en route to the 16-0 triumph. Sophomore left-hander Jamie Martin was the beneficiary of the run production, and pitched the first four innings of scoreless ball to improve to 7-2 on the season. Martin yielded no runs on just one hit and struck out six while walking two. Freshman Mia Aiello threw a scoreless fifth inning as CNU pitching finished the day with no runs allowed on just two hits over ten innings of work.

Junior third baseman Brooke Greaver, who leads the Captains in almost every offensive category, drove home five runs in the nightcap, with four coming on a second inning grand slam that gave CNU an early 6-0 edge. The blast was Greaver's 13th of the season and 23rd of her career, which is eighth on the all-time school home run list. Nine different Captains recorded at least one base hit in the nightcap, and junior Brooke Childress drove in three runs with a double and a triple as the Captains again coasted to victory. 

Christopher Newport concludes the regular season this week with a pair of doubleheaders on the road. CNU will travel to Roanoke for a twin bill Tuesday afternoon against the Maroons. The Captains then head to Maryland next Sunday for a doubleheader at top-ranked Salisbury to wrap up the regular season before returning to Salisbury May 11-13 for the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.