NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University opened play in the 2024 NCAA Division III Championship Thursday, as the Captains recorded a 4-1 victory over John Jay College at Captains Park. The win was the 16th straight for Keith Parr's team, and improved CNU's record to 31-5.

Junior pitcher Kate Alger was brilliant for the third-ranked Captains, throwing six perfect innings before John Jay broke through in the seventh frame for a run and three hits, the first a bunt single. Alger mowed down the first 18 Bloodhounds to come to the plate, and struck out 14 as she raised her record to 15-4 on the season.

Christopher Newport took an early lead with a single run in the second inning when senior second baseman Caroline Pollock drove home senior outfielder Jules Donnelly with a base hit to left field. The Captains added to the lead with a pair of runs in the third frame, as senior outfielder Katie Currin delivered an RBI double to bring home fifth-year senior Delaney Nuckols, who had singled and stolen second base. Currin then scored on a Donnelly single to left to push the advantage to 3-0. The Captains added another single run in the fifth frame when Currin produced her second RBI double of the day, plating pinch runner Reagan Luby with the fourth run of the game. Luby entered the game in place of senior third baseman Brooke Greaver, who started a two-out rally with an infield pop up that dropped and rolled for a double.

The Captains registered eight hits in all, with seniors Greaver, Currin, and Donnelly delivering two each. CNU also stole four bases, two by Donnelly and one each by Pollock and Nuckols. Christopher Newport has now swiped 132 bases in 144 attempts this season, most-ever by a Captains squad in the 40-year history of the program.

Alger's perfect performance ended when Elika Rodrigues led off the seventh with a bunt single. Rodrigues later scored the lone run of the day for the Bloodhounds on an RBI single from Alyssa Cadolino to provide the 4-1 final verdict. John Jay fell to 32-13 with the loss, and pitcher Jailene Santiago, who went the distance, fell to 14-6 for the year.  

CNU Head Coach Keith Parr recorded his 697th career victory leading the Captains. Parr, who is in his 21st season at the helm, now has a career record of 697-206-1 for a winning percentage of 77 percent. The game marked the first-ever meeting with John Jay College, Champions of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC).

The four-team, double elimination regional will continue on Friday, as CNU will open the day with an 11:00 a.m. game vs. Ramapo College (N.J.). Ramapo defeated Pfeiffer University, 8-4, in the second game Thursday at Captains Park. Friday's game will be the first of three to be played on the second day of the regional. Pfeiffer, now 43-3, will play John Jay at approximately 1:30 p.m. in the first elimination game of the regional. The day will conclude Friday with another elimination game at 4:00 p.m. as the four-team field will be cut to two.