GREENWOOD, S.C. – Home runs by Mikayla Luskin and Kaitlin Brunelli led the Chowan Softball team to a split in the series against Lander on Sunday afternoon on the road.

THE BASICS

GAME THREE FINAL | Chowan 6, Lander 3

GAME FOUR FINAL | Chowan 1, Lander 9

RECORDS | Chowan 2-7-1, Lander 3-3

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

INSIDE THE BOXSCORES

Mikayla Luskin paced the offense with two hits including a double and a home run with three RBI.

Hannah Eden and Paige Wilhelm also tallied two hits.  Kaitlin Brunelli added her second home run of the season.

EmaRae Flores picked up the win in game three tossing the complete game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game Three: Chowan 6, Lander 3

Meredith Morgan forced a long at-bat to start the contest before drawing a walk.  The Hawks were unable to string together at-bats in the first.  Hannah Eden picked up a single to start off the third inning.

EmaRae Flores allowed a single in the first but left her stranded at second.  The Bearcats picked up a single and swiped second in the third.  Another single put runners in scoring position, but Flores worked out of the jam with a line out.

The Bearcats looked to threaten again in the fourth but a double play ball and ground out ended the threat.  Lander broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning with three hits.  Hannah Naifeh threw out the second runner trying to score to keep the contest at 1-0.

In the sixth inning, Mikayla Luskin doubled to start the inning and moved the third on a wild pitch.  A single by Paige Wilhelm was not enough to get Luskin home as she was thrown out at the plate.  Jesse Gentry picked up a single before a walk by Haleigh Reid to load the bases with two outs.  The Hawks benefitted from a wild pitch and a throwing error to take the lead 3-1.

Lander would get a run back in the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run.  EmaRae Flores would settle in to finish off the inning without allowing a base runner.

Hannah Naifeh recorded a one-out walk in the top of the seventh.  Hannah Eden picked up a single to left center and moved to second on the throw to put both runners in scoring position.  Mikayla Luskin recorded a three-run home run to left center to put the Hawks on top 6-2.

After a pitching change, Meredith Morgan drew a walk before Paige Wilhelm would reach on a single after poking one over the outstretched reach of shortstop.  Haleigh Reid drew a two-out walk to load the bases.

Lander looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of one-out singles.  A two-out single closed the gap to 6-3.  EmaRae Flores got a flyout to end the game.

Game Four: Chowan 1, Lander 9

Lander scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning as an error sparked the rally.  The Bearcats posted a triple and a double in the inning to lead 3-0.

Kaitlin Brunelli would deposit a 1-2 pitch over the left center field wall to cut into the deficit to lead off the second inning.

Lander answered in the second inning with a solo shot to lead off the inning.  Megan Vincent would come in to pitch in relief and shut down the rally from progressing, 4-1.  The Bearcats pushed across a run in the fourth inning to lead 5-1 as Vincent picked up a pop up and strike out to end the inning.

The Bearcats added to their lead in the fifth for the run-rule victory 9-1.

UP NEXT

Chowan is scheduled to play Bluefield State at home on March 9.  Schedule is subject to change.