MURFREESBORO, NC- The Chowan University softball team picked up two wins on Thursday afternoon against Elizabeth City State University in a nonconference doubleheader.  The Hawks took the first game 21-2 before earning a 14-1 win in the nightcap.
 
The Hawks scored early and often throughout the afternoon.  In the first game, Chowan took a 2-0 lead in the home half of the first after an RBI triple from Liz Hipple who later scored on a put-out at first base after a strikeout.  The Hawks tacked on five more runs over the course of their next two at-bats to pull ahead 7-1. 
 
The Hawks exploded offensively in the home half of the fourth inning, scoring 14 runs in the frame.  Chowan batted twice through the order and pounded out 14 hits to gain a 21-2 advantage before earning the win in five innings.
 
Alora Lincoln earned the win on the mound for the Hawks, while Kiyanna Merritt took the loss for the Lady Vikings.  Leigh Ward was 4-5 in the first contest, joined by Liz Hipple, Courtney Baker, Hannah Joyce, and Lacey Wildeboer who were 3-4 in the win.  Each Hawk that entered the game had at least one hit, and six Hawks had multiple RBI's in the first contest. 
 
Amber Matthews put the Hawks on the board in the home half of the second after blasting a homerun over the centerfield fence on the first pitch of the inning.  Chowan went to work again in the bottom of the third inning to score seven runs in their half of the frame.
 
Courtney Baker's two-run single, Hannah Joyce and Lacey Wilderboer's RBI singles along with a two-run double from Liz Hipple allowed Chowan to take an 8-1 lead.  The Hawks scored an additional six runs in the bottom of the fourth after a two-run single by Lauren Astengo, a Lady Viking error which allowed Katie Moore to score, and three bases loaded walks. 
 
Courtney Groce retired the Lady Vikings in order in the top of the fifth to grab the 14-1 win over Elizabeth City State.  Groce earned the win on the mound for the Hawks while Heather Smith took the loss for the Lady Vikings.    Liz Hipple and Hannah Joyce each picked up two hits in the nightcap, and five Hawks had two RBI's in the win. 
 
Chowan improves to 14-18 after Thursday's wins, while Elizabeth City State falls to 0-13 on the season.  The Hawks host Virginia State University on Saturday afternoon in a CIAA Northern Division match-up.  Seniors Amber Matthews, Shelby Pendleton, Megan Wade and Lacey Wildeboer will be honored prior to the first contest.  First pitch is slated for 2:00pm.