SALEM, VA. –  The Chowan Softball team battled against the regionally ranked Winston-Salem State Rams to an extra inning affair but fell 7-6 to fall to the loser's bracket on Monday evening.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 6, Winston-Salem State 7 (eight innings)

RECORDS | Chowan 20-21, Winston-Salem State 30-10

LOCATION | Salem, Va. (Moyer Sports Complex)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Jesse Gentry led the team at the plate with three hits.  Beth Walker, Lindsey Stigler, and Miranda Glover picked up two hits each.  Gentry, Glover, Haley Cooper, and EmaRae Flores recorded a double each.  Glover would hit her second home run of the Championship and added three RBI.

EmaRae Flores (10-11) would take the loss in the circle allowing seven runs (five earned) on 12 hits.

The Hawks would draw six walks but left 15 on base.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Winston-Salem looked to do some damage in the top of the first inning as two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out.  EmaRae Flores settled in to get two pop ups to end the threat.

Haley Cooper started off the Hawks' half of the inning with a double down the right field line.  Beth Walker singled up the middle to put runners on the corners.  Jesse Gentry singled to load the bases.  Brittany Parson and Miranda Glover battled through their at-bats to draw full count walks to plate the opening two runs of the contest.

Beth Walker produced a two-out single up the middle.  Jesse Gentry doubled to left center to keep the momentum moving to put two runners in scoring position.  A flyout would end the threat.

WSSU would get on the board in the top of the third inning to cut the deficit to 2-1.  Miranda Glover gave the Hawks the two run lead again with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, 3-1.

The Rams would rally in the top of the fourth inning loading the bases on two hits and an error.  Two more hits following the error allowed two runs to score to take a 4-3 lead.  Miranda Glover makes a diving catch and doubles off a runner to end the inning.

Donya Salman grabbed the momentum back with an infield bunt single to start the bottom of the fourth inning.  Haley Cooper reached on an error and moved Salman to second.  Jesse Gentry singled to left center to load the bases with one out.  A pop up and a ground out ended the threat.

WSSU looked to add another run in the top of the fifth inning as the lead-off batter reached on a base hit.  A sacrifice bunt and a fly out moved the runner to third.  EmaRae Flores was able to get a ground ball to keep the deficit at 4-3.

Chowan looked to rally with two outs in the fifth inning as Hannah Naifeh picked up a single up the middle before Donya Salman drew a walk.  The Hawks would be left stranded.

Lindsey Stigler picked up a single in the bottom of the sixth but nothing going for the Hawks in the inning.

In the final chance for the Hawks down 4-3, Miranda Glover starts off the inning with a double to right center.  EmaRae Flores moved Glover to third on a ground out.  Hannah Naifeh would draw a walk.  Donya Salman pushed Naifeh to second to put two runners in scoring position with two outs.  The tying run would score on a passed ball.  Haley Cooper and Beth Walker drew walks to load the bases.  The Hawks were unable to push across the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

Winston-Salem would plate the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning as the runner placed at second came around to score on a sac bunt and a single up the middle.  The Rams would plate two more runs in the inning as a single to left center allowed the runs to score.  Donya Salman would cut down the runner heading home to end the inning down 7-4.

In the bottom of the eighth, Mackenzie Taggart was placed at second base.  Lindsey Stigler led off the inning with a bloop single over the head of the shortstop and moved to second on the attempt at third.  Miranda Glover hit a sac fly to center field to close the gap to 7-5 with two outs.  EmaRae Flores would double home pinch runner, Brooklynne Johnson, to cut the deficit to 7-6.  A pop up would end the contest.

UP NEXT

Chowan falls to the loser's bracket to face Johnson C. Smith on Tuesday, April 30 at 12pm on Field One.  The Hawks would have to win three games tomorrow to play for their third straight CIAA Championship.  If the Hawks get past the Golden Bulls, they would take on the winner of Claflin and Fayetteville State at 2:30pm, then take on the loser between Winston-Salem State and Virginia State at 5:30pm.