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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Christopher Newport University softball team bounced back from their first NCAA tournament loss earlier Sunday for a 7-3 victory over eighth seeded McDaniel.  The win advances CNU to the regional championship Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. against Roanoke College.

After struggling at the plate in the day's first game against Roanoke, CNU put a run on the board in the first after a Jen Falin RBI single and added two more in the third when Kristina McLaughlin hit a sacrifice fly to score Kelley Foate and Falin doubled home Sabrina Hill.

CNU's lead was quickly cut back to one when McDaniel answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the third.  Third baseman, Sam Stitley singled home Amy Baumgardner and senior right fielder Lauren Fusco.  McDaniel couldn't add any additional runs as Stitley was erased by a double play and Foate made a catch against the left field wall in foul territory to end the inning.

The Captains blew it open in the sixth when Foate doubled home shortstop Hannah Martin and pinch runner Felicia Price.  Foate crossed home plate as the next batter, Kristina McLaughlin hit a two-run blast over the right-center fence.  CNU starter Whitney Haller would give up one more run in the bottom of the seventh but her teammates had provided enough offense to cruise to her sixteenth victory of the year.

McDaniel's magical ride through the NCAA tournament was highlighted by Baumgardner's walk-off grand slam against Salisbury in Sunday's second game, but came to an end against the Captains.  The Green Terror matched a school record by recording their 30^th victory and finished 30-14 on the season.

CNU faced McDaniel starter Caroline Brehm who finished the season with 377 strikeouts, good for sixth all-time in NCAA Division III history.  Brehm had only given up four runs total in the Green Terror's four NCAA games before CNU tagged her for seven.

The Captains will face Roanoke College at 10:00 a.m. Monday in a rematch of Sunday's game that ended in a 4-1 CNU defeat.  As the only undefeated team remaining in the Newport News Regional, Roanoke will have to lose twice to CNU in order to not advance to the NCAA finals in their home town of Salem, VA.  CNU is looking to make their third straight trip to the NCAA finals after losing in the national championship series in 2011.

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