NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University will play in its 19th consecutive NCAA Softball Tournament beginning Thursday in Alliance, Ohio. The Captains, Champions of the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference, will play Penn College on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the University of Mount Union.  The NCAA released the bracket for the upcoming 64-team tournament late Monday morning.

The game will be the first-ever for the Captains vs. Penn College, Champions of the United East Conference. The Wildcats are 33-7 so far this season.

The four-team regional will also consist of host Mount Union, who will play Lebanon Valley on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in the opening game of the double-elimination regional. Play will continue Friday with three games scheduled, including two elimination games.  The regional  is scheduled to conclude on Saturday with the title game and a second championship game, if necessary. 

The trip to the NCAA's will be the 19th straight for the Captains, and the 23rd in the 42-year history of the program. Keith Parr, now in his 23rd season leading the Captains, will guide his squad into the tourney after beating Mary Washington on Friday in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference title game, 8-1. The Captains are 28-11 on the season.

Christopher Newport won the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2022, and the Captains have an all-time record of 56-43 in NCAA Tournament games.