Nationally-ranked Christopher Newport took both games of a USA South doubleheader with LaGrange on Saturday. The 12th-ranked Captains (12-7, 4-1 USA South) won 9-4 and 6-2 over the Panthers (7-7, 2-4 USA South).
Christopher Newport broke a 3-3 tie in the first game with a run in the fourth inning. The Captains added four more runs in the third inning and a final run in the sixth inning.
The Panthers trailed 3-0 heading into the bottom of the first inning. Danielle Newbern reached on an error to lead off the inning. She stole second and came around to score as Kalin Oglesby also got on base because of an error.
Dani Gravett followed with an RBI single to center to drive in Oglesby. Kelbi Burgering's two-out base hit scored Gravett to tie the game 3-3.
The Panthers closed out the scoring in the sixth inning. Gravett doubled to center with one out. She moved over to third on a fly out and scored on Laura Webber's base hit.
Kayla Folds (2-4) pitched 2-1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs. Christy Flick finished the final 4-2/3 innings while giving up three runs.
In the second game, the Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. With one out, Maddie Kolovich and Newbern had back-to-back singles and moved up as Oglesby grounded out. Folds drove in Kolovich with a base hit to left center.
The Captains came back with three runs each in the fourth and fifth innings off Gravett (4-3) and Amanda Stukel. Kara Patterson pitched 2-1/3 innings of scoreless relief to close out the game.
The Panthers got their second run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Oglesby and Folds started the inning with back-to-back hits and moved up as Patterson grounded out. Courtney Beshel got a base hit up the middle to drive Oglesby to make it 6-2.
The Panthers host North Carolina Wesleyan in a USA South doubleheader Sunday beginning at noon.
