Rocky Mount, N.C. - Freshman Kendra Hoes blasted a three-run homerun in the second inning of game one to highlight a 7-2 Wesleyan victory over 15th-ranked Christopher Newport University in Wednesday's USA South softball action at Edge Field. The Captains managed a 5-1 win in the nightcap to secure a league split, leaving both teams with 10-4 overall records and 1-1 conference marks.

Sophomore hurler Leanna Fann went the distance in game one, scattering seven hits and allowing just two runs, both solo homers. She picked up her league-leading seventh win of the season in the process.

Down 1-0 with two outs in the second, Hoes picked a great stage for her first collegiate homer. Her blast to left field put the Bishops on top 3-1, and NCWC would not trail again.

After a solo-shot by CNU's Chelsea Mitchell in the top of the third pulled the Captains to within one, Bishop senior Meredith Mills answered with an RBI-single of her own to give Wesleyan a 4-2 lead entering the fourth. Sophomore Paige Pritchett later connected on a bases-clearing, three-run double in the fifth for the 7-2 final. 

All seven of Wesleyan's runs were scored with two outs as CNU ace Krista Townsend (3-1) suffered her first loss of the season.

In the second game, freshman pitcher Kelsi Bailey (3-3) turned in a solid performance but unlike game one, the Bishops were unable to get timely hitting as they twice hit into double plays with runners in scoring position. 

CNU plated a pair of unearned runs in a third inning that saw NCWC commit a trio of fielding errors, but Wesleyan managed to cut the deficit to 2-1 in their half of the frame as Mills drove in her 20th run of the season with another single to center.

The Captains' Whitney Haller (3-2), however, would get out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth with a 1-2-3 double play, which was followed by a 6-4-3 double play in the fifth. The sixth again saw the Bishops strand runners at second and third, while CNU added three insurance runs over its final two at-bats for the 5-1 final.

Mills and current USA South Rookie of the Week Carla Matthews were each 2-for-4 for the Bishops.

Wesleyan continues USA South play on Saturday when they host Ferrum College at 1:00pm.