MIckles' Blast Sends Pfeiffer Softball to 1-0 Win Over Defending National Champion and No. 1 Christopher Newport

Newport News, Va. (March 9, 2023) – Graduate student Caiti Mickles belted a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning and sophomore pitcher Kenzi Lyall threw a complete game shutout in a 1-0 win over the defending NCAA Division III champions and No. 1 ranked Christopher Newport to spoil the CNU home-opener in Newport News, Va. on Thursday afternoon.

The Basics
Pfeiffer def. #1 Christopher Newport, 1-0

Records
Pfeiffe4 – 9-4
Christopher Newport – 3-2

Location – Newport News, Va. – Captains Park
How it Happened
With the game scoreless, Mickles, from Boonville, N.C., launched her third homer of the season over the left-center wall to lead off the seventh inning, giving Pfeiffer the 1-0 lead.

In the home half of the inning, Pfeiffer's Lyall, from Sparta, N.C., walked the CNU leadoff batter.  After recording the first out on a fielder's choice, Lyall forced a pop up for the second out of the inning.

A wild pitch then put the CNU runner in scoring position.  CNU would then get runners of first and second following a walk, but Lyall forced a pup up to second base to end the inning, sending Pfeiffer to the win over the top-ranked Captains.

Game Superlatives
The Pfeiffer win snaps a 32-game home winning streak for CNU, which dated back to April 1, 2021.  Last season CNU was 26-0 in home games.

CNU sophomore pitcher Kate Alger suffered her first loss in her collegiate career.

CNU stranded 13 runners on base, while their five hits were all singles.

Pfeiffer's Kenzi Lyall stuck out five CNU batters on the day, which puts her with 44 on the season, ranking first among USA South pitchers.

The last time CNU was shutout was on April 17, 2021 when they fell in the first game of a doubleheader to Salisbury by an 8-0 score, a span of nearly 23 months (691 days).

Up Next
The Falcons will continue to road trip on Friday, March 10 when they take on No. 3 Salisbury in a doubleheader starting a 1:00 p.m.