NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University concluded a successful weekend on Sunday in Raleigh, N.C., as the seventh-ranked Captains defeated Berry Colllege and Methodist University in the Grand Slam Triangle Classic. CNU downed the Vikings of Berry in the first game of the day, 8-3, and then shut out the Monarchs of Methodist in the second game, 8-0, in a game closed out by the Captains after six innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Keith Parr's squad went 4-0 in Raleigh in the Classic, and the Captains are now 12-0 to start the season. The Captains registered victories over Arcadia and NYU on Saturday on the first day of the weekend tourney.

In the opener, the Captains jumped to an early lead by plating three runs in the opening inning. Berry bounced back with three of their own in the second, as senior pitcher Jamie Martin allowed her first earned runs of the season. Martin recovered by throwing four scoreless innings, and ended up going six frames and allowing three runs on four hits while striking out five. Martin improved to 6-0 on the season as she earned the victory in the 8-3 CNU triumph.

At the plate in the opening game, sophomore Simone Thompson smacked her second home run of the season, and also doubled and drove in two runs for the Captains. Senior Sammy Drew and sophomores Natalie Quinlan and Candace Slaw each recorded three hits in the victory, and Quinlan and junior Isabel Hall each knocked in two runs. The Captains piled up 14 hits against the Vikings, who fell to 12-4 with the loss.

In the second game of the day, senior Kate Alger again was impressive. Just one day after throwing a no-hitter in a CNU victory over NYU, Alger hurled five shutout innings on Sunday, striking out eight and scattering four hits in the 8-0 Captains victory. Alger improved to 5-0 with the victory as the Captains supported her with eight runs and 13 hits.

Senior Kendall Bentley and sophomore Brooke Zuber provided the fireworks in the nightcap, each hitting home runs. Bentley provided a solo shot in the second inning, her second of the season. Zuber cracked a three-run shot in the fifth, her first home run as a Captain.

Fifth-year senior third baseman Brooke Greaver got the scoring started against the Monarchs with a first inning RBI double. Thompson scored Greaver moments later with a double to make it 2-0. The long balls by Bentley in the second and Zuber in the fifth made it 6-0, and the Captains closed it out in the sixth when freshman Cora Thomas delivered a two-run double to provide the 8-0 final score. Thomas was three-for-four in the game, and Slaw posted three hits in three at bats, giving her six hits in the two Sunday wins.

The Captains return to action on Friday against East Texas Baptist University at Captains Park. The game will be part of the Cross Bay Bash, and is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. The Captains are also scheduled to play George Fox University Friday at 5:00 p.m. at Captains Park, and play will continue Saturday and Sunday in the Cross Bay Bash.