No. 8 Captains Sink Softball

BURLINGTON, N.C. - Top-seeded Christopher Newport University earned a berth into the 2009 USA South Conference softball Tournament championship game by downing No. 2 Shenandoah Saturday evening at Springwood Park.

CNU (33-5) scored two runs in the first and one more in the second to take a commanding lead over Shenandoah (27-10).

As a result of the victory, the Captains will await the winner of the SU/NC Wesleyan contest to play for the tournament championship.

The Hornets and Bishops will meet at 9 a.m. Sunday in the loser's bracket championship; that winner will have to beat CNU twice to win the title and the accompanying automatic berth into NCAA Tournament.

Christopher Newport got the runs it would need to hold off SU with two runs on three hits in the first. Mary Kennedy got things started with a one-out double to left center before Katie Moyers reached on a fielder's choice.

Taylor Morgan and Renee Atkinson followed with singles through the left side and to left field, respectively, and CNU led 2-0 after one. The Captains added one more in the second on a Jordan Beadles RBI double to left-center.

Shenandoah scored its run in the top of the third when Katie Haskins led off with a walk, moved second on Catherine Beuerle's single to left and then scored when Jesse Khosravi-Heins hit a single to right center.

Unfortunately for the Hornets, Heins' single was the team's last batter of the frame as Beuerle was cut down at the plate trying to score from first.

Haskins (15-3) lost for the first time since March 14 after allowing the three runs on six hits and no walks. She also struck out five.

All three of Haskins' losses this season have come to nationally ranked teams. CNU is No. 8 in this week's NFCA poll.

Lindsey Kelly (12-4) was the winner for the Captains. She gave up the one run on four hits and three walks while striking out two.