Courtesy of CNU Athletic Communications

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Four unearned runs in the first inning got the Christopher Newport University softball squad off to a fast start Friday afternoon, and the 11th-ranked Captains cruised to an 8-3 triumph over Randolph-Macon College. The victory at Captains Park came in the opening game of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship's Super Regional. The best-of-three series will continue Saturday at 1:00 p.m., and a third game, if necessary, would be played at approximately 3:30 p.m. The winner of the Super Regional Saturday will be one of eight teams to advance to the National Finals next week in Tyler, Texas.

Keith Parr's squad is now 37-7 overall, and the Captains improved their record at home this season to 22-2. Randolph-Macon is now 28-15, and the Yellow Jackets were victimized by four errors in the loss.

"For us, it was all about continuing our momentum from the last few weeks and keeping our focus," Parr said following the win on a sunny and warm day at Captains Park. "We wanted to get back to work and take care of business, and I think that's got to be our attitude for tomorrow."

CNU plated the four unearned runs in the bottom of the first on one play. Freshman Kaitlyn Hasty came to the plate with the bases loaded and delivered a double to the gap in left. An errant throw on the relay to the infield allowed all three runners, as well as Hasty, to come around to score to give the Captains the 4-0 early edge.

After the Yellow Jackets responded by scoring twice in the second and once more in the third to make it a 4-3 score, Hasty returned to the plate in the home half of the third and delivered an RBI single to make it 5-3. Freshman Caitlin Abernethy then brought home another run with an RBI groundout to make it 6-3.

Christopher Newport completed the scoring with two in the fourth. Junior Grace Wild dropped a bunt single, and again the Yellow Jackets' defense failed them. A throwing error allowed sophomore baserunners Maddie Hool and Natalie Carmichael to come home and account for the 8-3 final verdict.

Junior Trish Webb entered the game in relief of starter Emily Weatherholtz in the third inning and held the Yellow Jackets to no runs and just three hits over four and two-thirds innings. She earned the victory to improve to 9-4 on the season. R-MC starter Candace Whittemore threw all six frames for the Yellow Jackets, and allowed just two earned runs while falling to 18-8 on the year.

Both teams finished with nine hits, but the Captains played error-less softball while the Yellow Jackets committed four miscues for the day. Randolph-Macon's Ali Celiberti hit the only home run of the game, a two-run shot in the second inning. 

The squads now return to action Saturday to determine the winner. Tickets will be available at Captains Park again Saturday for the Super Regional's conclusion. Adults are $10.00 and students and senior tickets are $7.00. Live stats and video will also again be available Saturday on CNUsports.com/watch.