LOCK HAVEN, PA. – The Chowan Softball team's rally came up short in the NCAA Atlantic I Regional elimination game against Shepherd, 4-1, on Friday afternoon.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 1, Shepherd 4
RECORDS | Chowan 31-16, Shepherd 34-19
LOCATION | Lock Haven, Pa. (Lawrence Field)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Haley Cooper and EmaRae Flores notched the lone hits for the Hawks. Brittany Parson and Miranda Glover drew a walk. Molly Rosenthal reached base with a hit by pitch.
The Hawks hit the ball hard but the Shepherd defenders were able to make the plays.
Shannon Buchanan (16-8) took the loss in the circle scattering seven hits and struck out four.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Shepherd posted a run in the top of the first inning as a walk an error allowed the Rams to pose the threat. An attempted double steal allowed the Rams to plate a run before the third out could be recorded.
Haley Cooper produced the first base runner for the Hawks in the bottom of the first inning after reaching on a hit by pitch.
EmaRae Flores picked up the first hit for the Hawks in the bottom of the second with a blooper to left field.
Shepherd looked to extend their lead in the third as a walk and a single started a rally but was thwarted as a run-down at third erased the lead runner.
Miranda Glover looked to spark a rally in the bottom of the third with a lead-off walk. Kris Neal lined out to right field and Haley Cooper was robbed of a hit with a liner up the middle.
Shepherd would break through in the fifth with a two RBI triple to push the lead to 3-0. Chowan slowed the momentum with a double play to end the inning.
Shelby Griffis started off the sixth inning with a hard shot to left but was unable to find the gap. Haley Cooper singled through the left side of the infield with two outs. Cooper moved to second on a passed ball but a fly out ended the threat.
The Rams added a run in the top of the seventh with a solo home run to push the advantage to 4-0.
Brittany Parson started off the bottom of the seventh with a walk. Carleigh Wildeboer, pinch ran for Parson, moved up to second on a wild pitch before Molly Rosenthal reached on a hit by pitcher. Miranda Glover would bring home a run as a pop up in front of the catcher tipped off the catcher's glove allowing Wildeboer to scamper home to break-up the shutout.
SEASON WRAP-UP
Shelby Griffis, Kris Neal, and Molly Rosenthal wrapped up their Chowan playing careers with a 31-16 overall record. The trio achieved two CIAA Championships and two NCAA Atlantic Regional postseason berths.