FLORENCE, S.C. – The Chowan Softball team split day two of the Patriot Invitational hosted by Francis Marion on Saturday. The Hawks won the first game of the day 2-0 over Mercy before falling 9-4 to Francis Marion.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Game One: Chowan 2, Mercy 0 | Game Two: Chowan 4, Francis Marion 9
RECORDS | Chowan 4-5, Francis Marion 6-2, Mercy 2-2
LOCATION | Florence, S.C.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORES
Kris Neal led the Hawks with three hits and a home run on the day. Lindsey Stigler, Brittany Parson, and Haley Cooper notched two hits each.
Kris Neal, Brittany Parson, and Beth Walker recorded two RBI apiece.
Shelby Griffis picked up the win in the first game tossing a complete game shutout allowing three hits and struck out five.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One: Chowan 2, Mercy 0
All the scoring happened in the bottom of the first inning as Lindsey Stigler and Beth Walker reached via the free pass with two outs. Stigler and Walker moved up 60 feet on a wild pitch before Brittany Parson hit a double down the left field line to score the two Hawks.
The Hawks had a chance to increase their lead in the bottom of the third as Haley Cooper started off the inning with a double to left. A deflection off the pitcher's glove caught Cooper in no-man's land for the first out.
Chowan picked up two hits in the bottom of the fifth but two ground outs ended the threat.
Shelby Griffis cruised in her outing as no Mercy runner advanced past second base.
Game Two: Chowan 4, Francis Marion 9
Mackenzie Taggart singled to open the contest but the Patriots doubled off the Hawks to end the threat. Francis Marion responded with a run in the bottom of the first picking up two hits along the way.
Singles by Brittany Parson and Kris Neal sparked a rally in the top of the second but was turned away.
FMU added to their lead in the bottom of the third as the Patriots used a three-run homer to lead 4-0. The Patriots added five more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to push the advantage to 9-0.
Chowan fought back in the top of the fifth inning as the Hawks loaded the bases. Kris Neal started the rally with a single off the third base bag and into the outfield. Miranda Glover doubled to left before Molly Rosenthal walked to load the bags. Beth Walker singled up the middle with one out to bring home two runs for the Hawks.
The Hawks would chip away once again in the top of the sixth inning as Kris Neal launched a home run off the top of the center field fence for a two run shot to trim the deficit to 9-4. CU was unable to scratch across any more runs in the final innings.
UP NEXT
Chowan returns for the final day of the Patriot Invitational as the Hawks play Mercy on Sunday, February 18. First pitch is at 10am.
