Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MURFREESBORO- The University of Mount Olive handed the Chowan University softball team two  nonconference losses on Wednesday afternoon.  The Trojans topped the Hawks 8-4 in the opening contest and blanked Chowan 9-0 in the nightcap.  The Hawks slip to 15-11 on the season with the setbacks while the Trojans improve to 28-16 on the year with the victories.  

The Chowan softball team celebrated Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day on Wednesday in-between games.  Click HERE to view the photo gallery. 

After two scoreless innings of play in the opening game, the Trojans scored in the top of the third when Beth Overman drew a bases loaded walk.  The Hawks answered back in the bottom half of the frame when Tina White hit a triple to right center allowing Brook Bowen to score.  A triple by Mount Olive's Taylor Carter along with an error by Chowan led to three additional runs for the Trojans in the top of the fourth. 

Mount Olive built the lead to 5-1 after Savannah Becker's RBI single in the sixth.  Three runs off of four hits by the Trojans in the seventh left Chowan looking to bounce back from an 8-1 deficit.   The Hawks plated three runs using RBIs from Chandler Bridges, Tori Cragan and Courtney Diamond but it proved to be too little too late as Chowan suffered the 8-4 setback in the opening contest. 

Mount Olive had 13 hits in the first game, led by Kelsey Akers with four base hit knocks.  Carter had three hits for the Trojans in the win.
 
Diamond and White accounted for four of Chowan's eight hits in opening contest.  Kayla Robins threw 3.1 innings in the loss for the Hawks.  She surrendered four runs (three earned) off of six hits.  Alora Lincoln entered the contest in-relief.  She gave up four runs (three earned) in 3.2 innings of work. 

Chowan was unable to recover in the second game.  Mount Olive plated runs in five of the seven innings of the contest while holding the Hawks to three hits and forcing five errors.  Bridges notched two hits in the loss while Danielle Baccus tallied a hit for the Blue and White.  Courtney Groce took the loss on the mound in the nightcap.  She surrendered nine runs (six earned) off of 12 hits. 

Lauren Smith picked up the shutout win for Mount Olive.  Akers led the effort offensively with three hits while Becker, Carter and Kristin Powers had two hits apiece. 

The Hawks look to recover on Saturday, April 18^th.  Chowan hosts Virginia State University in a CIAA Northern Division match-up.  First pitch is slated for 12:00pm.  The Hawks will celebrate seniors Chandler Bridges, Jordan Burland-Card, Courtney Diamond and Alora Lincoln in-between games.