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A two-out walk-off grand slam by Jennifer Falin in the bottom of the 13^th inning gave Christopher Newport a 7-3 win over No.2-ranked Emory in the second round of the Salisbury Regional at the NCAA Division III Championships.  The loss snapped a 14-game Emory win streak and leaves it record at 41-3-1 while the Captains, who have won their opening two games at the regional, stand 33-10 overall

In a game that featured 28 hits and numerous scoring opportunities for both clubs (Emory left 12 runners on base while CNU stranded 14), Christopher Newport took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on a RBI single by Ashley Mani.  Emory quickly bounced back and would generate all of its runs when it crossed the plate three times in the top of the fourth.  Junior left fielder Jessica Thomas led off the frame with a double and scored when the next batter, junior catcher Jessica Boni followed with another two-bagger.  A single by Brittany Boeshore moved Boni to third and, following a stolen base by Boeshore, senior Zara Louy delivered a clutch pinch-hit single that scored two runs.  Both Boni and senior shortstop Nikki Perez collected three hits with Emory registering 13 safeties for the contest.

CNU loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth before freshman Lena Brottman came on in relief of Jaclyn Jacobi who relieved starter Bridget Holloway in the third.  Brottman worked her way of that jam, allowing just a sacrifice fly, which cut Emory’s lead to 3-2.  The Eagles had a chance to build upon their lead in the seventh when they had runners at the corners with two out but could not push the insurance run across the plate.  The Captains tied the contest in the bottom of the inning when a sacrifice fly by Falin scored Kelley Foate. 

The extra innings became a battle between Brottman and CNU starter Krista Townsend with each hurler dodging scoring threats at various times.  Emory put the leadoff runner on in the eighth and ninth but came up empty while Brottman, who allowed just one hit from the eighth through tenth innings, had to work out of a dicey situation in the 11^th, when the Captains had the winning run on third, and a runner on first with one out.  The Eagles put an end to that rally when shortstop Jen Haag gunned down Lauren Stewart who was trying to score on a ground ball before a lineout by Mani ended CNU’s bid to win the game.  

In the top of the 12^th, Emory loaded the bases with two out but couldn’t score while CNU had a base runner on second with one and two outs which proved fruitless.  It appeared that Emory might break through with the go-ahead tally in the top of the 13^th when Boeshore led off with a walk followed by a bunt single by freshman Lauren Gorodetsky.   However, a fielder’s choice forced Boeshore at third and a failed stolen base attempt and a subsequent pop out stymied the rally.   After a ground opened the CNU half of the 13^th, a walk to Foate followed by a single by Kristina McLaughlin put runners at first and second.  After Mani reached on a fielder’s choice, moving Foate to third and terminating McLaughlin at second, a walk to Jessie Atkinson loaded the bases, setting the stage for Falin’s homer.

Brottman took the loss in the circle, just her second in 18 decisions, tossing 9 2/3 innings of relief and allowing nine hits while striking out two. CNU Sophomore Krista Townsend saw her record go to 8-2 after hurling all 13 innings and surrendering 13 hits while striking out seven.  Her 13-inning stint established a school record for longest outing, bettering the previous record of 11 innings.

With a loss in the double-elimination tourney, Emory will play Rowan University in an elimination game on Saturday morning starting at 10:00 a.m.  Christopher Newport advances to the winner’s bracket and will play at 2:00 p.m. against either host Salisbury or Shenandoah.