GREENWOOD, S.C. –  The Chowan Softball team split the first doubleheader of the series against Lander on Saturday afternoon hitting two home runs late to pick up the win in the nightcap after Lander posted a walk-off win in game one.

THE BASICS

GAME ONE FINAL | Chowan 3, Lander 4

GAME TWO FINAL | Chowan 9, Lander 5

RECORDS | Chowan 1-6-1, Lander 2-2

LOCATION | Greenwood, S.C. (Doug Spears Field)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORES

Hannah Naifeh paced the Hawks with four hits including a home run and three RBI.  Kaitlin Brunelli also tallied four hits with a double and two RBI.

Hannah Eden and Haleigh Reid tallied two hits each.  Eden posted a walk and was hit twice.  Mikayla Luskin hit a two-run home run to put the Hawks on top in game two.

Megan Vincent picked up the win allowing two earned runs and four strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game One: Chowan 3, Lander 4

Paige Wilhelm would reach base on a drop third strike and advance to second on a wild pitch.  Jesse Gentry would draw a walk before Kaitlin Brunelli doubled to plate Wilhelm for the opening run of the contest.

Hannah Naifeh started off the second with a single up the middle.  Hannah Eden and Mikayla Luskin would be hit by pitches to load the bases with no outs.  Paige Wilhelm picked up a RBI single to short right center to push the lead to 2-0.  A pair of short fly outs and a strike out ended the threat.

Lander picked up their first hit in the bottom of the second with a single along with a walk.  After a sacrifice bunt, Lander would post a run on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Hannah Naifeh recorded a two-out single to left center off the wall in the third but was thrown out trying to stretch into a double.

The Bearcats would rally in the bottom of the third inning as a lead-off single produced a run as an error by the Hawks allowed the next batter to push across the run.  Mikayla Luskin would keep the go-ahead run off the board with a strong throw to erase the run at the plate.

Lander took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with a single and a double to lead 3-2.

Kaitlin Brunelli reached on an infield single on a hot shot in the left side gap.  The pinch runner for the Hawks would get picked off after a sacrifice bunt pushed the runner to second but was caught getting back to the bag.  Hannah Naifeh would be hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch.  Hannah Eden scored the pinch running Mary-Grace Crosby on a RBI single to even the score at 3-all.

Lander would walk it off in the bottom of the seventh with three hits to plate the winning run, 4-3.

Game Two: Chowan 9, Lander 5

Meredith Morgan started off game two with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch.  Paige Wilhelm drew a walk.  Haleigh Reid picked up a single to center to load the bases with one out.  Kaitlin Brunelli recorded a RBI ground out to put the Hawks on the board, 1-0.

Lander looked to get the run back in the bottom of the inning as an error and a hit put runners on the corners.  Megan Vincent worked out of the jam with a line out and a pop up.

Hannah Naifeh led off the second with a single through the left side of the infield along with a hit by pitch by Hannah Eden.  Meredith Morgan drew a one-out walk to load the bases.  Jesse Gentry ripped a single back up the middle to push the lead to 2-0.

Lander would plate four runs in the inning as an unfortunate bounce off the second base bag changed the spin into the outfield allowing the bases to clear to lead 4-2.  Megan Vincent was able to limit the damage playing her position with a diving catch.

Hannah Eden led off the fourth inning with a single to right field.  Meredith Morgan would find some grass over the head of the second baseman.  Chowan benefited from an error to allow Eden to score.  Haleigh Reid singled to through the right side of the infield to even the score at 4-all.  Kaitlin Brunelli singled before the Hawks were thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

Hannah Naifeh drew a walk in the fifth before Mikayla Luskin hit a two-run homer to center field to take the lead 6-4.

The Bearcats looked to rally with two outs in the fifth inning as a single and hit by pitch put a runner in scoring position.  An error allowed a run to score to cut the Chowan lead down to 6-5.

Lander recorded a double and a sacrifice bunt in the sixth before Megan Vincent got a ground ball to end the rally.

Kaitlin Brunelli opened the seventh inning with a single down the line.  Delaney Devor laid down a bunt single to push the pinch-running Mary-Grace Crosby to second.  Hannah Naifeh hit a three-run home run to left cent to put the Hawks up 9-5.  Hannah Eden drew a walk before being stranded to end the inning.

Megan Vincent allowed a single in the seventh but groundouts ended the inning and contest.

UP NEXT

Chowan and Lander will hit the field again on Sunday, February 21 in the final two games of the series.  First pitch is slated for 1pm.