WISE, VA.- The Chowan University Softball team could not complete the comeback in the opening contest of the NCAA Atlantic Region I Tournament against #18 West Chester falling 2-1 on Thursday evening.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 1, #18 West Chester 2

LOCATION | Wise, Va. (Cavalier Field)

RECORDS | Chowan 36-19, #18 West Chester 45-10

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
 

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Kris Neal led the Hawks at the plate going 2-3 with a double.  Brook Bowen, Haley Cooper, Brittany Parson, and Emily Stafford recorded one hit each.  Stafford tallied the lone RBI in the contest for the Hawks.

Katrina Simmons picked up a walk and a hit-by-pitch to wrap-up the base runners for Chowan.

Kayla Robins took the loss in the circle allowing two runs off eight hits.  Robins struck out six batters in six innings of work.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Katrina Simmons started off the contest reaching base after getting hit by a pitch.  Brook Bowen pushed Simmons to second with a single through the left side of the infield.  West Chester was able to get out of the inning.

The Golden Rams recorded a walk and moved the runner to second on a sacrifice bunt.  A strikeout and a pop-up ended the threat.

In the second, Brittany Parson led off the inning with a single up the middle.  Parson moved to second on a two-out throwing error but was left stranded in scoring position.

Chowan had a chance to break the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning.  Katrina Simmons led off the inning with a walk.  Haley Cooper singled to center with one out moving Simmons into scoring position.  Danielle Baccus grounded out moving Simmons and Cooper into second and third.  A groundout would end the Hawks' threat.

West Chester posted the first two runs on the board in the bottom of the third to take a 2-0 lead.  The Golden Rams singled to start the inning and capped the inning off with a two-run home run with two outs.

The Golden Rams looked to add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth after loading the bases.  Three straight hits to start the inning put the Hawks on their heels.  Chowan battled back to record back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.

Chowan looked to rally in the seventh trailing 2-0.  Kris Neal doubled to right center to spark the rally.  Neal moved up 60 feet on the Shannon Buchanan groundout.  A single by Emily Stafford cut the deficit in half for the Hawks, 2-1.  Stafford moved to third with two outs before being tagged out after a run-down between third and home.

UP NEXT

Chowan will face No. 4 seeded UVA-Wise on Friday, May 12 in an elimination game.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:30pm, weather permitting.