Captains Sink Hornets Tournament Hopes

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BURLNGTON, N.C. - No. 8 in the nation and top-seeded Christopher Newport University claimed the 2009 USA South Conference softball Tournament title Sunday afternoon with a 4-1 victory over second-seeded Shenandoah.

CNU (35-5) receives the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament with the win over the Hornets (28-11).

Shenandoah took the initial lead Sunday after scoring a run in the top of the fourth on two hits. Senior Catherine Beuerle, who was one of three SU players named to the All-Tournament team, led off with a single to left and then scored all the way from first when Christopher Newport booted Jesse Heins' single to left for a two-base error.

The Captains answered with one run in the bottom of the frame on a double, sacrifice and a squeeze before clinching it with a three-run sixth.

First baseman Kristin Nickloy provided all of those runs as he took Hornets pitcher Katie Haskins (16-4) deep for a three-run HR to left.

Haskins struck out five and allowed the four runs on six hits in 6.0 innings.

Kristen Rowe (20-1), who was named as the Tournament MVP, struck out six and walked just one to earn the win.

Haskins and Lauren Wall joined Beuerle on the All-Tournament team.