NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Christopher Newport University softball team came up big on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from top-ranked Salisbury University at Captains Park. The victories, by scores of 4-1 and 3-2, extended CNU's winning streak to 13 and gives the Captains home field advantage next weekend in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. The Captains, ranked seventh in the country, conclude the regular season with a record of 28-5. Salisbury, who had won 29 straight games entering Saturday's twin bill, is now 34-3.

Seniors Katie Currin, Brooke Greaver, and Jules Donnelly all homered in the doubleheader, and junior pitchers Jamie Martin and Kate Alger were both spectacular in the circle. Martin, who has been honored as the C2C's Pitcher of the Week the last four weeks and six times this season, earned the victory in the opener and then picked up a save in the nightcap. Martin threw the final inning of game two in relief of Alger, who pitched the first six frames and notched the win in the second game.

The Captains fell behind in the opening game on a cloudy and cool afternoon when Salisbury scored a single run in the second inning. The 1-0 edge would prove to be the Sea Gulls only lead of the day. CNU answered with three runs in the bottom of the second, as Currin evened the game with a solo home run, her fourth of the season. Junior Kendall Bentley pulled the Captains in front when she doubled later in the inning, scoring two to make it 3-1. Christopher Newport added an insurance run in the fifth inning when Greaver crushed her third home run of the season to account for the 4-1 final verdict.

Martin, meanwhile, sailed through the Salisbury lineup and allowed just the second inning run and only four hits. She struck out eight and walked two as she improved her record to 10-1 on the season. The lefty had her consecutive scoreless innings streak snapped at 34, but recovered by holding Salisbury scoreless over the last five frames. SU starter Nicole Ortega, also a lefthander, suffered the loss, and is also now 10-1 on the year.

In the nightcap, the Captains grabbed the lead with single runs scored in the first and third innings on RBI singles from Currin and Greaver, both plating freshman leadoff hitter Candace Slaw. The Sea Gulls were blanked by Alger through the first five innings before finally breaking through thanks to a two-run home run from fifth-year senior Abby Mace in the top of the sixth to even the game at 2-2. CNU quickly got the lead back in the bottom of the sixth when Donnelly crushed a long home run to left, her third of the year, to supply the 3-2 final score. Martin entered in relief for Alger in the seventh, and retired the Sea Gulls in order to earn her first save of the year.

Alger, who upped her record to 13-4, struck out five and didn't walk a batter in her six innings of work. She gave up two runs on four hits. SU starter Sydney Adolfson fell to 6-1 after yielding three runs on six hits, while striking out seven and walking just one Captain.

Slaw ended up going four-for-five in the twin bill, slapping four singles, scoring two runs, and stealing two bases. 

Saturday's first game marked the 900th game at the Captains helm for Head Coach Keith Parr. Following the sweep, Parr has now compiled a career record of 694-206-1 for a winning mark of 77 percent. The opening game also marked the 100th all-time meeting of CNU and Salisbury on the softball field. CNU now leads the all-time series with the Sea Gulls, 51-48, with two ties. The victories snapped a three-game winning streak in the series for the Sea Gulls.

Christopher Newport will now host the 2024 Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament beginning Friday, May 10th. Salisbury will play the University of Mary Washington on Friday at 2:00 p.m., with the winner taking on the Captains at 5:00 p.m. Friday. The double elimination tourney will continue on Saturday, May 11th,  with two games and then, if necessary, would conclude next Sunday, May 12th.

CNUsports.com will have further information on the upcoming tournament throughout the week.