ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – The Chowan Softball team cruised to a pair of CIAA opening wins against Johnson C. Smith and Livingstone in day one of the CIAA Round-Up hosted by Elizabeth City State.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 12, Johnson C. Smith 4 (5 innings) | Chowan 12, Livingstone 0 (5 innings)

RECORDS | Chowan 13-8 (2-0), Johnson C. Smith 2-8 (0-2), Livingstone 0-4 (0-2)

LOCATION | Elizabeth City, N.C. (South Park Complex)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORES

Three Hawks hit a home run on the day as Kris Neal, Lindsey Stigler, and Beth Walker tallied a long ball in the wins.  Neal led the Hawks with eight RBI including a triple and a grand slam.

Molly Rosenthal and Haley Cooper went 2-2 in the win over Livingstone.  Cooper recorded four RBI.

Shannon Buchanan moved to 6-4 on the season in the circle with a complete game against Johnson C. Smith.  EmaRae Flores improved to 2-0 with a complete game shutout.  Flores allowed one hit and tallied six strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Chowan 12, Johnson C. Smith 4 (5 innings)

The Hawks jumped on the board in the top of the first inning as Lindsey Stigler and Beth Walker hit back-to-back home runs to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.

JCSU cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly.

Chowan countered with four runs in the second inning to push the lead to 6-1.  Miranda Glover started off the inning with a walk before swiping second.  Mackenzie Taggart singled on a bunt to push Glover to third.  Kris Neal was credited with a triple but touched them all as Glover, Taggart and Neal scored.

Beth Walker drew a walk to keep the inning going before coming around to score on a Brittany Parson single to left.

Donya Salman started the attack in the third inning with a double to center field.  Mackenzie Taggart reached on an infield single and stole second to push Salman to third.  Kris Neal hit a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 7-1.

The Golden Bulls pushed across a run in the bottom of the fourth but the Hawks scored five in the top of the fifth to lead 12-2.  Miranda Glover sparked the rally with a walk and stole second.  Kris Neal doubled to left center to score Glover before coming around to score on a Haley Cooper single.  Lindsey Stigler singled and Beth Walker drew a walk to load the bases.

Brittany Parson hit a sacrifice fly to score Haley Cooper before Donya Salman hit a double to left center to push the advantage to 12-2.

JCSU chipped into the deficit in the bottom of the fifth with two runs in the inning but the lead was too large as the Hawks won 12-4 in a run-rule effort.

Chowan 12, Livingstone 0 (5 innings)

Chowan was able to keep the momentum going as Kris Neal started the inning drawing a free base after being hit by a pitch.  Neal took second on a steal and moved to third on a passed ball.  Haley Cooper brought home Neal for the first tally of the game on a RBI single to left. 

Molly Rosenthal picked up the Hawks where they left off in the first inning with a RBI single to left field as Donya Salman started off the inning with a walk and a stolen base.  An error in the inning and a single by Mackenzie Taggart loaded the bases.  Haley Cooper doubled to right to unload the bases before scoring on an error to push the advantage to 6-0.

The Hawks would bat around in the bottom of the third inning as miscues in the inning by the Blue Bears allowed the Hawks lead to swell to 12-0.  Emily Stafford reached on an error and moved to third on a stolen base and passed ball.  Molly Rosenthal was hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position on the passed ball.  Kelsey Sonntag loaded the bases on a dropped third strike.   Kris Neal hit a grand slam to keep the momentum going in the inning.

Kerrin Mailhot recorded a double for her first collegiate hit before scoring on a Lindsey Stigler double to right.  Brittany Parson doubled home Stigler and moved Beth Walker, who drew a walk, to third.  Stafford drew a walk to load the bases before the Hawks stepped off the bases early to end the threat.

Starting pitcher, EmaRae Flores, carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning before a two out single ended the achievement.

Molly Rosenthal, Kelsey Sonntag and Mackenzie Taggart recorded hits in the bottom of the fourth inning but left the bag early to keep the game moving with the Hawks leading 12-0.

UP NEXT

Chowan continues play in the CIAA Round-Up on Saturday, March 17.  The Hawks will play St. Augustine's and Shaw at 10am and 2pm respectively.