(Story courtesy of DePauw University)

SALEM, Va. - Christopher Newport scored five runs in the top of the first and 16th-ranked DePauw couldn't catch up as the Tigers dropped an 11-3 decision to the Captains in the winner's bracket of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Finals. Box Score | Official Site

The Tigers dropped to 32-10-1 with the loss and dropped down to the loser's bracket where they'll face SUNY Cortland at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Christopher Newport improved to 37-10 and advanced in the winner's bracket to face Texas-Tyler at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

Kristina McLaughlin and Ashley Mani each drew one-out walks in the top of the first before Jessie Atkinson doubled down the left field line scoring McLaughlin. Jennifer Falin followed with a single to right which plated Mani and an error on the throw from the outfield allowed Falin to advance to second.

Chelsea Mitchell followed with a single which scored Atkinson and gave the Captains a 3-0 lead. Mitchell stole second and a throwing error on the attempted steal permitted Falin to score. Taylor Dillow delivered a two-out single which brought home Mitchell and pushed the lead to 5-0.

DePauw countered with one in the bottom of the first as Rachel MacBeth led off with a base hit and moved to second on Brianne Weeks' sacrifice bunt. Jen Kosinski followed with an RBI single to right center.

The Captains came right back in the second as McLaughlin and Atkinson each hit solo homers to make it 7-1. That lead reached 9-1 in the fourth as McLaughlin singled and Atkinson hammered her second homer of the contest.

Haley Buchanan led off the DePauw half of the fourth with a single and pinch-runner Samantha Szyska advanced to third when Holly Paris doubled. Jamie Story entered as a pinch-hitter and knocked in both with a single to center to close the lead to 9-3. Cymone Allen followed with a walk, but the Tigers left two runners aboard.

Mitchell and Dillow each singled for Christopher Newport in the fifth before Candice Zollars drew a walk. Kelly Foate hit into a fielder's choice which forced Mitchell at the plate, but McLaughlin followed with a single which scored pinch-runner Felicia Price and Zollars.

The Tigers were retired in order in the fifth and the game ended due to the eight-run rule.

DePauw totaled five hits with five different players finishing with one each. The Captains totaled 11 hits with McLaughlin and Atkinson each totaling three. Mitchell and Dillow had two apiece, while Atkinson drove in four and McLaughlin three.