Christopher Newport University

2017 - Junior Season - Collected second-team All-American honors while establishing herself as one of the top shortstops in the nation … Also earned first-team All-Conference and All-Region accolades while securing second-team All-State nods … Tormented opposing pitchers, leading the CAC with 50 runs scored while finishing second with 59 hits and a .509 on-base percentage … Also ranked sixth in the conference with a .428 batting average and 34 RBI … Served as a centerpiece in the middle of the lineup, batting third in 40 games during the year … Pieced together a 22-game hitting streak from March 19 - April 21, which marked the third-longest run in program history … Also had a 12-game streak to open the year from February 18 - March 5 … Recorded at least one hit in 37 of her 44 appearances, including 15 multi-hit efforts … Had two or more hits in four straight games from February 25 - 26 … Laced a season-high four hits and scored four runs at Salisbury on April 8 … Scored four more runs and blasted a home run in her very next appearance at Southern Virginia on April 14 … Also went deep against Penn St. Harrisburg on April 2 and Mary Washington during the CAC Tournament on April 20 … Knocked in at least two runs in nine games during the year … Was perfect on the base paths, converting all 11 of her stolen base attempts … Stole at least one bag in four straight appearances from March 4 - 12, including three consecutive games against No. 8 Emory … Also showed outstanding patience at the plate, ranking eighth in the CAC with 15 walks … Equally outstanding on the defensive end … Ranked second in the conference with 94 assists, including a season-high seven against Roanoke on March 19 … Nearly perfect during the squad’s postseason run, converting 28 of her 29 chances in the field during the playoffs … Had six assists against Neumann in the NCAA Tournament on May 14 and came back with four putouts against No. 13 Kean on May 15.
 
2016 - Sophomore Season - Started all 44 games while anchoring the middle infield at the shortstop position … Continued to flash power, ranking second on the team and seventh in the CAC with six home runs … Her .524 slugging percentage also placed her second on the squad among qualified batters … Finished the year with a .298 batting average and a .390 on-base percentage … Registered seven multi-hit outings, including back-to-back two-hit efforts during a doubleheader at York (Pa.) on April 2 … Reached base safely in 17 consecutive contests from March 21 - April 10, including a season-long nine-game hitting streak … Blasted four home runs during that stretch, including one in back-to-back games against No. 9 Salisbury on March 26 and Eastern Mennonite on March 28 … Also went deep in the season opener against William Peace on February 23 and at Wesley on April 16 … Knocked in 27 runs during the season and had two or more on nine occasions … Was perfect on the bases, stealing 10 bags in 10 attempts … Swiped two bases against Virginia Wesleyan on March 30 … Compiled a .929 fielding percentage and ranked second on the team with 84 assists.
 
2015 - Freshman Season - Made an immediate impact during her first year with the Captains … Started 27 games at shortstop … Finished the year with a .952 fielding percentage and led the team with 52 assists … Hit .264 after roping 19 hits in 72 at bats … Showed power with five home runs, which ranked second on the team … Launched her first career long ball in her collegiate debut against William Peace on March 4 … Went deep against Randolph-Macon in the regular season on March 15 before adding another shot against the Yellow Jackets in the NCAA Tournament on May 10 … Matched her season-high with three RBI while pumping two hits in three at bats during the NCAA Regional Championship Game against Macon … Had five multi-hit outings during the year, including two during a doubleheader against York (Pa.) on April 11 … Drove in 15 runs and scored 19 times during the year … Also was perfect on the bases after stealing four bags in four attempts.
 
At Brooke Point - Multi-sport athlete for the Blackhawks, playing varsity basketball, field hockey and softball all four years ... 2014 Runner-Up for the Free-Lance Star Female Athlete of the Year ... Three-year team captain of the softball team, earning All-District honors three times ... First-team All-Area in 2013 and 2014 ... First-team All-Conference and second-team All-Region in 2014 ... Named Offensive Player of the Year her senior year ... Also earned All-District honors all four years for the field hockey team ... First-team All-District and All-Area in 2013 ... Named Honorable Mention All-District and second-team All-Conference as a member of the basketball team as well.
 
Personal - Rachael Elizabeth Payne is the daughter of John and Kathleen Payne ... Has an older brother, Jake ... Father played Division I lacrosse for three years at Radford University ... “Remember the Titans” is her favorite movie … Enjoys boating, fishing, and working out in her spare time … Aspires to become a physical therapist … Majoring in Biochemistry.