MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Softball team split a pair of games on the opening day of the Hawks Softball Classic on Saturday at home.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 19, Elizabeth City State 5
FINAL | Chowan 4, Frostburg State 7
RECORDS | Chowan 4-9, Frostburg State 3-3, Elizabeth City State 0-8
LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Hawks Softball Field)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Meredith Morgan and Paige Wilhelm led the Hawks at the plate collecting five hits each. Jesse Gentry picked up four hits. Beth Walker went 2-3 with four runs scored and two walks in her first action of the season.
Shannon Buchanan registered three hits and a team-high six RBI. Lindsey Stigler and Brittany Parson tallied a home run each. Parson's home run with a milestone one as she is now the all-time home run leader for Chowan.
Megan Vincent picked up the win against Elizabeth City State with six strikeouts. Carleigh Wildeboer tossed 1.2 shutout innings in relief.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Chowan 19, Elizabeth City State 5 – five innings
Elizabeth City State took advantage of the free passes in the top of the first inning to lead 2-0 early.
Chowan rallied in the bottom of the inning as Paige Wilhelm singled up the middle and swiped second. Delaney Devor doubled to left center to score Wilhelm. Lindsey Stigler belted a home run to left to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead.
Beth Walker continued the inning with a walk before a single by Meredith Morgan and a base knock by Shannon Buchanan to score Walker to lead 4-2.
Brittany Parson hit her record breaking home run in the bottom of the second inning with a solo shot to left field.
ECSU scratched back to within two, 5-3, with a solo home run.
The Hawks pushed their lead to 8-3 in the bottom of the third inning as Jesse Gentry started off the inning with a single to left center before moving to second on a wild pitch. Beth Walker singled to center to plate Gentry. Meredith Morgan doubled to left center to score Walker to lead 7-3. Paige Wilhelm singled to right scoring Shannon Buchanan who reached on an error.
Chowan batted around in the fourth inning scoring a season-high 11 runs in the frame to lead 19-3. Lindsey Stigler, Jesse Gentry, and Beth Walker drew walks to load the bases. Meredith Morgan singled to plate Stigler and Gentry before Shannon Buchanan hit a sacrifice fly to lead 11-3. Alexis Grim drew a walk in her pinch-hit appearance. Paige Wilhelm singled to plate Morgan to continue the inning. Delaney Devor beat out a bunt single to load the bases.
Brittany Parson drew a bases loaded walk to plate a run before Lindsey Stigler singled down the left field line to plate two more runs. Beth Walker and Shannon Buchanan picked up two RBI base hits to push the advantage to 19-3.
The Vikings pick up two runs in the top of the fifth as the deficit was too large to overcome.
Chowan 4, Frostburg State 7
Frostburg State rallied early to score four runs in the top of the first on three hits and an error.
Chowan countered in the bottom of the inning with a lead-off bunt single by Paige Wilhelm. Delaney Devor singled through the right side before Wilhelm and Devor moved up a base on a ground out by Brittany Parson. Lindsey Stigler loaded the bases with a fielder's choice as the Bobcats attempted to get Wilhelm going back to third.
Jesse Gentry singled home the opening run for the Hawks before a two RBI single up the middle by Shannon Buchanan cut the deficit to 4-3.
Chowan evened the score in the bottom of the second as Mackenzie Taggart drew a walk and moved to third on passed balls. Paige Wilhelm singled and swiped second. Taggart attempted to swipe home but was thrown out. Wilhelm came around to score on a throwing error by the Bobcats, 4-4.
Frostburg State scored a run in the third and fourth inning to lead 6-4.
Paige Wilhelm looked to spark a rally in the fourth inning reaching on an error. Delaney Devor produced a sacrifice bunt to push Wilhelm to second. Wilhelm moved to third on a deep fly ball by Brittany Parson but would be left stranded.
The Bobcats stretched their lead to 7-4 in the top of the sixth inning on three hits. Carleigh Wildeboer finished off the inning with a pair of groundouts.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jesse Gentry and Meredith Morgan picked up singles with two outs but were left stranded to end the contest.
UP NEXT
Chowan returns for day two of the Hawks Softball Classic against Frostburg State at 1pm and Elizabeth City State at 3pm on Sunday.
