MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Softball team earned their first Conference Carolinas sweep in dominating fashion with a pair of 8-0 run-rule victories against Converse on Saturday afternoon at home.

THE BASICS

FINAL GAME ONE | Chowan 8, Converse 0 (5)

FINAL GAME TWO | Chowan 8, Converse 0 (5)

RECORDS | Chowan 7-18 (2-4), Converse 1-27 (0-4)

LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Hawks Softball Field)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORES

Kaitlin Brunelli paced the offense with four extra base hits, with three doubles and a triple to go with three RBI.  Haleigh Reid and Paige Wilhelm contributed three hits each.  Reid added a double, triple, and home run to go with four RBI.  Wilhelm added three RBI.

The Chowan pitching staff of Ina Womack, Megan Vincent, and Bailey Wilcox allowed two hits and four walks in the doubleheader.  Ina Womack tossed a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts and one hit.  Vincent tossed 4.0 innings allowing one hit with four strikeouts.  Wilcox picked up a pair of strikeouts in one inning.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game One: Chowan 8, Converse 0 (five innings)

After allowing a base runner to scamper over to third, Ina Womack picked up a pair of strikeouts to leave the runner stranded in the top of the first inning.

Chowan jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning as Paige Wilhelm led off the inning with a double to right.  Meredith Morgan singled to right and moved to second on a miscue to place a pair of runners in scoring position.  Hannah Eden and Kaitlin Brunelli registered RBI groundouts in the frame to lead 2-0.

The middle innings moved quickly until the Hawks added to their total in the fourth inning.  Kaitlin Brunelli opened the frame with a double to left center before Cailyn Nowell, pinch runner, scored on a sacrifice bunt that led to an error for Courtney Lamb.  Jesse Gentry picked up a single before Mya Horne added a walk to load the bases.  Paige Wilhelm singled up the middle to plate a pair before Meredith Morgan singled home a run to lead 6-0.

Ina Womack quickly worked through the Valkyries' lineup in the fifth after striking out the side.

Kaitlin Brunelli reached on an error in the fifth before Haleigh Reid hit a two-run home run for the run-rule victory.

Game Two: Chowan 8, Converse 0 (five innings)

Chowan continued their scoring plating a pair in the bottom of the first inning as Hannah Eden drew a two-out walk.  Kaitlin Brunelli and Haleigh Reid doubled in the inning to lead 2-0.

The Hawks added to their total in the third inning as Hannah Eden reached on an error before Kaitlin Brunelli tripled down the right field line to plate Eden.  Brunelli scampered home on Haleigh Reid's triple down the line to lead 4-0.

Elizabeth Heller sparked a rally in the fourth inning with a double to left before scoring on Paige Wilhelm's single up the middle following a sacrifice bunt by Mya Horne to lead 5-0.

Converse had their best opportunity to score in the fifth loading the bases on a pair of walks and a single.  Bailey Wilcox came in and slammed the door with a pair of strikeouts and a ground out to end the threat.

Chowan put the finishing touches on the contest in the fifth inning as Hannah Eden led off the frame with a solo home run to left center.  Kaitlin Brunelli doubled before Haleigh Reid drew a walk.  An error in the inning allowed a run to score before Elizabeth Heller loaded the bases with a walk.  Serena Riley delivered the run-rule victory with a single up the middle.

UP NEXT

Chowan will host UNC Pembroke on Tuesday, March 29 in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader.  First pitch is slated for 1pm.