Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MURFREESBORO- The Chowan University softball team opened CIAA Northern Division play with a two-game sweep of Elizabeth City State University on Sunday afternoon.  The Hawks improve to 14-8 overall and 8-0 in the league with the win while the Lady Vikings slide to 2-16 on the year and 2-8 against CIAA competition.  Chowan hung on for a 7-5 win in game one before topping Elizabeth City State 12-0 in the nightcap. 

In the opening game, the Lady Vikings struck first in the top of the second and grabbed a two-run lead thanks to a two-run double by Kiyona Merritt. A two-run single by Tiara Webb in the top of the third pushed Elizabeth City State ahead 4-0 before the Hawks were able to respond offensively.  An RBI single by Danielle Baccus and error by the Lady Vikings gave the Hawks two runs in the bottom of the third.  Chowan tacked on two additional runs in the fourth when Chandler Bridges' triple allowed Rachel Clark to score and Courtney Diamond's single sent Bridges home. 

An RBI single by Brook Bowen in the fifth gave the Hawks their first lead of the contest.  Lilyann Arnold doubled down the right field line to return the lead to Elizabeth City State in the sixth.  With the score tied 5-5 in the sixth, an error by the Lady Vikings followed by Bowen's RBI single gave the Hawks all they would need to secure the 7-5 CIAA Northern Division win. 

Alora Lincoln earned the win on the mound for the Chowan Blue and White.  She threw all seven innings in the victory while holding Elizabeth City State to six hits and five runs (three earned).  Kelsey White tossed three innings for the Lady Vikings, surrendering four runs (three earned) off five hits.  Arnold took the loss on the mound for Elizabeth City State.  She threw three innings in-relief and held the Hawks to three runs (one earned) off three hits. 

Bridges collected two hits for the Hawks in the win while Bowen, Jordan Burland-Card, Tori Cragan, and Diamond each had base hit knocks in the victory.  Morgan Howell paced the Lady Vikings offensively with two hits in the setback.

In game two, back-to-back doubles by Cragan and Diamond gave Chowan a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  Chowan plated five runs in the bottom of the second using an error by Elizabeth City State, a three-run double by Cragan and RBI single by Diamond to take a commanding 7-0 lead. 

Kris Neal's RBI triple, Cragan's RBI single and Baccus' three-run double led to five more runs for the Hawks in the bottom of the third and contributed to Chowan's 12-0 advantage. 

Kayla Robins shutout the Lady Vikings in five innings of work.  She held Elizabeth City State to three hits while striking out five batters.  Arnold suffered the loss in game two after surrendering seven runs (six earned) in 1.1 inning of work.  White and Rachel Gilliken both entered the contest in-relief of Arnold.  Howell, Arnold and Diamond Davis each tallied hits in the setback. 

Cragan led the effort for the Hawks offensively with three hits and five RBI.  Diamond added two hits and two RBI while Baccus knocked in three RBI for the Chowan Blue and White. 

The Hawks return to action on April 4^th when they travel to Mount Olive for a nonconference doubleheader.  First pitch is slated for 1:00pm.