NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The No. 1 Christopher Newport Captains scored in the bottom of the first and held a 1-0 lead for a majority of Sunday's Regional Final against the Messiah softball team. The Captains added two insurance runs in the sixth en route to a 3-0 victory over the Falcons.
Madison Walter held a stellar Christopher Newport offense at bay for a majority of the contest, striking out nine and allowing eight hits and three runs in a complete game effort. Four hits and two runs came in the final inning.
Messiah's bats were shutout by the Captains for the second time on the weekend with
Jamie Martin twirling a complete game shutout with seven strikeouts. The Falcons did register five hits in the contest and had a pair of innings with two runners on the basepaths, but were unable to get on the board.
Kyley Mellage and
Lydia Collison led Messiah's offense with a pair of hits each while
Alexa Burger also recorded a hit in the game.
With the loss, Messiah's 2022 campaign comes to a close with an overall record of 29-15.
How It Happened
It seemed as if things were off to a great start for the Falcons in the top of the first.
Alexa Burger led off the game with a bunt single to first and it appeared that
Hannah Dyer advanced Burger to second safely on a sacrifice, but the base umpire called Burger out. After a strikeout and a groundout, Messiah was unable to dent the board in the first.
Despite the makings of a quality frame for Messiah, it was the Captains getting on the board first in the bottom of the frame. A leadoff walk, a double, and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Katie Currin, who skied a sacrifice fly down the left field line for a 1-0 lead.
Madison Walter limited the damage, getting the next two batters to pop out and a strikeout to end the frame.
Messiah's
Lydia Collison led off the third with an infield single, but the Falcons were unable to make anything else happen in the frame, stranding the leadoff single. Then in the fifth, the Falcons had their best chance at a run. With a runner on first,
Lydia Collison was robbed of an extra base hit in the right center field gap by a sliding catch from the Captains' centerfielder. The catch curtailed Messiah's attempt at a rally with
Kyley Mellage on first base after a one-out single. After a walk to Maggie Chinadurai, Messiah had two on with two outs. Unfortunately, a strikeout ended the threat without a run crossing the plate.
Christopher Newport responded with a threat of their own in the bottom of the fifth, collecting a pair of single to put runners on second and third with no outs. Walter wiggled out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to centerfield as the game moved into the sixth.
Christopher Newport's
Jamie Martin proceeded to strikeout the side to bring the Captains up in the bottom of the frame. The Captains' offense exploded for four hits and added two big insurance runs, putting the game out of reach for Messiah's offense that collected a pair of two-out singles in the seventh, but could not dent the scoreboard.
Christopher Newport did not allow a run in their three games at the NCAA Regional, outscoring their opponents 16-0. The 3-0 victory advances Christopher Newport into next weekend's Super Regional against the Virginia Wesleyan Marlins.
Capping Off the Season
With the loss, the Falcons' 2022 season comes to a close. Messiah finishes the year with an overall record of 29-15, claiming the MAC Commonwealth Championship for the 11th time in program history, and winning multiple games in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.
Newport News All-Regional Team
Caitlin Abernethy, CNU
Natalie Carmichael, CNU
Maggie Chinnadurai, Messiah
Lydia Collison, Messiah
Katie Currin, CNU
Samantha Marsala, Hunter
Megan Potter, Wilson
Bailey Roberts, CNU
Madison Walter, Messiah
Most Outstanding Player: Jamie Martin, CNU
