Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 RICHMOND, VA- The Chowan University softball team picked up two critical CIAA Northern Division wins on Sunday afternoon against Virginia Union University. The Hawks defeated the Lady Panthers 8-0 in the opening game and earned a 3-1 victory in the nightcap, handing Virginia Union their first divisional losses of the year.

Chowan improves to 18-12 on the season with the wins and advances to 11-1 against CIAA competition with a 5-1 record in divisional play. Virginia Union slips to 14-6 on the season and 11-2 in the league while holding a 5-2 record in the CIAA Northern Division. After Sunday's contest, the Hawks hold the lead in the CIAA Northern Division race with four divisional games remaining (two against Bowie State University and two against The Lincoln University).

In the opening game of the afternoon, the Hawks grabbed a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first after Courtney Diamond's RBI single and Katlyn Brummett's two-run homerun. A Virginia Union error in the top of the second gave Chowan an additional run. Rachel Cark's RBI double, an illegal pitch by Virginia Union, Tori Cragan's sacrifice fly and Diamond's RBI single to center pushed the Hawks ahead 8-0 in the top of the sixth.

Chowan' defense held the Lady Panthers at-bay with Alora Lincoln forcing Shontel Linnette into a double play in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win for the Hawk.

Chandler Bridges, Brummett, Clark and Diamond each had two hits in the victory. Lincoln picked up the win on the mound after tossing six scoreless innings while holding the Lady Panthers to four hits.

Taylor Hamilton and Marisha Bates had two hits apiece for Virginia Union. Quincy Lewis took the loss on the mound. She surrendered eight runs (four earned) off of nine hits in six innings of work.

In the nightcap, Linnette held the Hawks scoreless through two innings of play before White's two-run double to left field gave Chowan a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Jordan Burland-Card came through with an RBI single to right in the top of the fourth to push the Hawks ahead 3-0.

After five scoreless innings for Virginia Union, Hamilton gave the Lady Panthers some offensive spark with an RBI single to left in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on first and second and the go-ahead run at the plate, Ro-Shaila Williams hit a single up the middle to challenge the Hawks' defense but Bridges threw Hamilton out at the plate from centerfield to end the scoring threat.

Courtney Groce retired the Lady Panthers in order in the bottom of the seventh. She earned the win on the mound after surrendering one earned run in seven innings of work while striking out eight batters. Groce scattered seven hits over the course of the contest. Burland-Card, Clark and White each tallied base hit knocks in the win with White collecting two RBI.

Linnette threw all seven innings in the loss for Virginia Union. She gave up a mere three hits in the loss while allowing three runs (one earned).

Chowan will hit the road April 25^th-26^th to conclude CIAA Northern Division play. The Hawks take on The Lincoln University on April 25^th and travel to Bowie State University on April 26^th. First pitch is slated for 12:00pm on both days.