WEST CHESTER, VA- West Chester University took a pair of games from the Chowan University softball team on Monday afternoon in a nonconference doubleheader.  The Hawks fell 3-0 in the first game before dropping a 5-4 decision in the nightcap. 
 
Kim Murl of West Chester held Chowan to four hits in the first game, as Amber Matthews, Tori Cragan, Hannah Joyce and Shelby Pendleton were the only Hawks to reach base with hits.  The Golden Rams started off their half of the first frame with a double to right center by Kelly Anderson, who later scored on Jessica Schuck's RBI single. 
 
Jillian Murray and Laura Altenburger each tallied RBI singles in the home half of the sixth which would be all the Golden Rams needed to take the 3-0 win.  Alora Lincoln earned the loss on the mound for the Hawks, allowing six hits and three earned runs through six innings of work. 
 
Chowan fared better offensively in the nightcap as six Hawks combined for seven hits.  Liz Hipple's single through the left side in the top of the first allowed Leigh Ward to score, giving Chowan the first advantage of the game.  The Golden Rams responded with three runs in the home half of the first to grab a 3-1 lead.
 
West Chester added an additional run in the second, using a sacrifice fly from Schuck.  A single to left from Jessica Norris for the Golden Rams led a 5-1 advantage in the bottom of the fifth Chowan rallied in the top of the sixth to pull within striking distance using an error by West Chester, a groundout from Courtney Baker to score Ward, and Cragan's single to left to make the score 5-4.  The Hawks were unable to score in their final at-bat, allowing the Golden Rams to earn the 5-4 victory. 
 
Courtney Groce suffered the loss on the mound for Chowan in the nightcap after throwing two innings in the contest and surrendering four runs, one of which was earned.  The  Hawks move to 20-20 on the season after Monday's losses. 
 
The Hawks will hit the road again to take on Winston-Salem State University in a CIAA crossover match-up on Saturday at 1:30pm.  They will then take on Virginia Union University in a doubleheader in Richmond, VA on Sunday in a critical CIAA Northern Division doubleheader.