Box Score PETERSBURG, VA- The Chowan University baseball team dropped an 8-6 decision to Virginia State University in the opening game of the CIAA Tournament on Thursday afternoon.  The Hawks will play the loser of the Winston-Salem State/St. Augustine's contest on Thursday and must win in order to avoid elimination. 
 
The Trojans opened the game with a run using an RBI single from Tyler Coleman but the Hawks were quick to respond with a run of their own thanks to John Hunter's RBI double.  Chowan plated three runs in the second with RBI singles from Blake Eure, Colby Wiggins and Tanner Woods.  A sacrifice fly and RBI double by the Trojans in the top of the third left the Hawks with a narrow 4-3 lead.  
 
David Markins' two-run single gave Virginia State a 5-4 advantage in the top of the fourth.  Burden's sacrifice fly to center allowed Eure to score and knotted the score 5-5 in the home half of the frame. 
 
The Hawks and Trojans each plated a run in the sixth.  Colton Gunn's RBI single and a fielder's choice in the seventh allowed Virginia State to pull away 8-6 before securing the win. 
 
Eure paced the Hawks with three hits in the loss while Wiggins and Woods collected two hits apiece.  Burden notched two RBI for the Blue and White.  Bobby Mason threw four innings on the mound while Stephen Hux tossed two innings in-relief.  Will Gurganus, Carter Siweck and Austin McGhee each had one inning of work for Chowan.