MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Softball team rallied in the final game of the day but was unable to overcome the early deficit in the doubleheader sweep by Belmont Abbey in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
FINAL GAME ONE | Chowan 3, Belmont Abbey 7
FINAL GAME TWO | Chowan 8, Belmont Abbey 12
RECORDS | Chowan 1-7, Belmont Abbey 4-2
LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Hawks Field)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORES
Haley Cooper and Lindsey Stigler led the team with three hits each. Cooper recorded three RBI on the afternoon, while Stigler tallied two.
The Hawks drew 11 walks in the doubleheader with Haley Cooper, Beth Walker, Jesse Gentry, Donya Salman, and Mackenzie Taggart drawing two apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One: Chowan 3, Belmont Abbey 7
Both teams were held off the scoreboard in the early going. Beth Walker and Jesse Gentry drew walks in the bottom of the first inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Beth Walker drew her second walk of the contest and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Miranda Glover but was left stranded.
Belmont Abbey manufactured a run in the fifth inning to lead 1-0.
The Hawks evened the score in the bottom of the inning as Lindsey Stigler led off with a single up the middle. Donya Salman reached on a sacrifice bunt. Leah Spiggle laid down a sac bunt to push runners to second and third with one out. Mackenzie Taggart would reach base as an error allowed a run to score. Haley Cooper drew a walk to load the bases but a double play ended the threat.
The Crusaders added three runs in the sixth inning on three hits and an error to lead 4-1. BAC tacked on three more in the seventh to lead 7-1.
Chowan tried to come back in the bottom of the seventh. Lindsey Stigler and Donya Salman singled to start the inning. Mackenzie Taggart drew a walk to load the bases with one out. A RBI groundout by Haley Cooper scored a run before a fielding error allowed another run to score. The Hawks would fall short 7-3.
Game Two: Chowan 8, Belmont Abbey 12
Belmont Abbey jumped on the board in the first inning as a double led to a sacrifice fly for the opening run of the contest.
The Crusaders added four runs in the third inning to lead 5-0 as three hits and an error led to a rally.
Haley Cooper picked up the first hit for the Hawks in the third inning. Cooper was thrown out at home following a Beth Walker double to left to end the threat.
Belmont Abbey scored three runs in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 8-0. The Hawks were able to get on the board in the bottom of the inning as Jesse Gentry led off the inning with a double. Gentry would come around to score on a Miranda Glover single up the middle, 8-1.
The Hawks continued their momentum in the bottom of the fifth to even the score at 8-all. Mackenzie Taggart, Haley Cooper and Beth Walker started off the inning with singles to load the bases. Jesse Gentry and Brittany Parson singled to score two runs. Lindsey Stigler singled up the middle to plate two more runs to cut the deficit to 8-5.
Donya Salman drew a walk to load the bases following the pitching change. Mackenzie Taggart drew a bases loaded walk to plate a run before Haley Cooper singled up the middle to plate two runs and even the score.
The score would not hold long as BAC homered on the first at-bat of the sixth inning. The Crusaders would push their lead to 12-8 in the inning and take the doubleheader.
UP NEXT
Chowan will travel to Florence, S.C. to take part in the Patriot Invitational hosted by Francis Marion on Friday-Sunday. The Hawks will take on Mercy on Friday, February 15. First pitch is at 3pm.
