Box Score GREENVILLE, SC- The Chowan University softball team opened the 2015 season with a split against North Greenville University on Friday afternoon.  The Hawks and Crusaders both start the season with 1-1 records after the doubleheader contest. 

In the opening game of the series, the Hawks struck first in the top of the second when Danielle Baccus' RBI single allowed Courtney Diamond to score.  The Crusaders answered back in their half of the frame using Cassi Carpenter's solo homerun to knot the score 1-1. 

North Greenville tacked on two runs in the bottom of the third using RBI singles by Shayna Finley and Morgan Roach.  Jordan Willingham's two-run homerun followed by a solo homerun by Chelsea Rivers gave the Crusaders a 6-1 run advantage in the bottom of the fourth.  The Hawks were unable to answer back offensively and suffered the 6-1 setback in the opening game. 

Carpenter earned the win on the mound for North Greenville after throwing a complete game.  She held Chowan to three hits while striking out nine batters.  Courtney Groce threw 3.2 innings in the loss for the Hawks.  She surrendered six hits and six runs (four earned) while striking out two Crusaders.  Alora Lincoln threw 2.1 scoreless innings in-relief. 

The Hawks opened the nightcap with two runs in the top of the first using Diamond's two-run single.  In the bottom of the second, a three-run blast by Taylor Wilson gave the Crusaders a 3-2 edge.  Trailing 3-2 in the top of the seventh, Chowan's Chandler Bridges capitalized on a passed ball to tie the score 3-3. 
Kayla Robins held the Crusaders at-bay in the bottom of the seventh, sending the contest into extra innings.  In the top of the eighth, with two outs and runners on first and third, Tina White's three-run homerun over the left field fence pushed the Hawks ahead 6-3.

Despite a costly error in the bottom of the eighth, the Hawks hung on to edge the Crusaders 6-5.  Robins worked out of a bases loaded jam to earn the win and tossed all eight innings in the victory.  She held the Crusaders to six hits while striking out nine batters.

Christene Phillips suffered the loss on the mound for North Greenville. 

The Hawks tallied 13 hits in the nightcap.  Bridges paced Chowan offensively with four hits while Tori Cragan, Diamond and Jordan Burland-Card each notched two hits. 

The Hawks return to action on Saturday when they travel Erskine College for a doubleheader.  First pitch is slated for 1:00pm.