Playing in its second game of the day, the University of Mary Washington softball team dropped a 4-1 decision at Christopher Newport University on Thursday afternoon in the second round of the Capital Athletic Conference tournament.

 The Eagles challenged early offensively, with five runners reaching base in the first two innings, but UMW couldn't find a run-producing hit, and stranded five in the first two frames. Christopher Newport scored three runs in the second, and added another in the fourth.

The Eagles reached the scoring column in the fifth, as Alex Tenney scored on a Hannah Otterman groundout. The Eagles had runners on second and third with two out, looking for more, but a diving catch by the CNU second baseman ended the rally.

Emily Briggs led the Eagles at the plate with three singles, while Zoie Patrick had two hits. Each team had nine hits in the game, with Brittany Scites' double standing as the lone extra base hit.

Freshman Courtney Merson took the loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits in one inning. Ashton Ferneyhough pitched well in relief, allowing five hits in five innings, with one earned run with three strikeouts.

The Eagles will face the winner of Thursday's Salisbury/York game on Friday at noon, with the winner of that game remaining in the tournament.