Box Score Box Score in HTML Format  |  Box Score in PDF Format

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Christopher Newport University softball team opened the 2012 NCAA tournament with a commanding 12-4 five-inning victory over Farmingdale State College.  The Captains scored in each of the first five innings to build an eight run advantage and improve to 35-9 on the season.

CNU finished as the national runner-up in the 2011 NCAA tournament and got off to a hot start as freshman first baseman, Sabrina Hill drove a first inning fastball deep over the left field wall to give the Captains an early 3-0 lead.  Hill added to her impressive freshman debut by driving in four runs and scoring three more while going 2 for 2.  In all, six Captains had multi-hit games with Chelsea Mitchell and Kelley Foate adding three hits each.

While Hill got things started with her first inning blast, freshman outfielder Amber Arevalo led off the second inning with a solo shot to left field and sophomore Taylor Dillow blasted her first career home run in the third.

Junior pitcher, Whitney Haller worked through a rough third inning where Farmingdale State was able to plate four runs and trim the Captains lead to 6-4, but settled down and went the distance for CNU in the shortened contest.  Haller finished the contest giving up four runs, none of them earned, while striking out four.

Farmingdale State drops to 26-14 on the season with a team that starts four freshman and a sophomore but relied on seniors Aubrey Walker and Rebecca Richman to claw back after falling behind by six runs two innings into the game.  Richman finished 2-3 with a pair of runs batted in for the Rams.

CNU advances to play fellow USA South Conference member Ferrum College in the winners bracket Friday at 4:00 p.m.  Ferrum, a 5-2 winner over third seeded Salisbury, broke a 25-game winning streak by the Seagulls and beat the Captains twice to clinch the USA South tournament title,

Farmingdale State will play Salisbury at noon on Friday in an elimination game.  Both games will be streamed live on CNUsports.com.

Post Game Interviews