Penn College lost 3-2 to Christopher Newport in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Alliance Regional on May 14. The defeat dropped the Wildcats’ record to 33-8, while the Captains improved to 28-11.
The result means Penn College will play an elimination game against Lebanon Valley at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Christopher Newport will face Mount Union at 11 a.m., with a second elimination game scheduled for later that day.
The Wildcats took an early lead in the first inning after Carissa Lusk hit a leadoff single and advanced around the bases with help from Sofia Mileto’s single and Payton Crawford’s walk, eventually scoring on Taylor Brown’s bunt single. Christopher Newport responded with a run in their half of the first inning, and both teams settled into a pitcher’s duel between Mackenzi Tice for Penn College and Caroline Alger for CNU.
In the sixth inning, Harley Kunes doubled to center field, sending Addison Detweiler home and putting Penn College ahead 2-1. However, Christopher Newport answered back in their half of the sixth with two solo home runs that gave them a lead they would not relinquish.
Tice recorded six strikeouts while allowing just five hits during her time pitching for Penn College. Mileto led the offense with two hits.
