PETERSBURG, VA- The Chowan University softball team used two wins to remain in the winner's bracket and advance to the CIAA Tournament semi-final on Thursday afternoon.  The Hawks earned a 6-3 win over Johnson C. Smith in their first game, and outlasted St. Augustine's University 4-3 in eight innings in the nightcap. 

Chowan entered the CIAA Tournament as the number one seed out of the Northern Division and took on the number four seed from the Southern Division, Johnson C. Smith University.  The Hawks grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the home half of the first inning using back-to-back doubles from Liz Hipple and Amber Matthews and two errors by the Lady Golden Bulls to take an early advantage. 

Chowan added two more runs in the home half of the second after a fielding error by Johnson C. Smith University allowed Shelby Pendleton to score.   The Hawks pulled ahead 6-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning after Tori Cragan scored on a fielding error. 

The Lady Golden Bulls got on the board in the top of the sixth after a triple by Ashton Byrd followed by a Hawk error made the score 6-1.  Johnson C. Smith plated two more runs in the top of the seventh inning using an error by Chowan.  Alora Lincoln ended the inning with a strikeout to give the Hawks the 6-3 win. 

Seven different Hawks accounted for seven hits in the victory.  Lincoln earned the win on the mound, scattering six hits throughout the contest.  Stacey Peralta took the loss for the Lady Golden Bulls. 

In the second game, Hannah Stutts' RBI single for St. Augustine's gave the Lady Falcons a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first.  The Hawks answered right back after Liz Hipple scored on a fielding error by the Lady Falcons in the bottom of the frame. 

St. Augustine's earned a 2-1 advantage in the second after Cierra Neal scored on a wild pitch.   Deja White led off third the inning with a triple and later scored on Renitt White's single to short, giving St. Augustine's a 3-1 lead.  Chowan responded with two runs in the bottom of the third when Leigh Ward scored on a throwing error, and Hannah Joyce knocked Hipple in on an RBI single. 

The game remained tied 3-3 through regulation.  Tori Cragan's single to right field in the bottom of the eighth inning secured the 4-3 win for the Hawks, advancing them to the semi-final game.  Courtney Groce earned the mound for Chowan.  Hipple and Joyce each notched two hits in the victory. 

The Hawks will take on Winston-Salem State in Friday in the winner's bracket semi-final match.  First pitch is slated for 12:30pm on the campus of Virginia State University. 

 Chowan entered the CIAA Tournament as the number one seed out of the Northern Division and took on the number four seed from the Southern Division, Johnson C. Smith University.  The Hawks grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the home half of the first inning using back-to-back doubles from Liz Hipple and Amber Matthews and two errors by the Lady Golden Bulls to take an early advantage. 
 
Chowan added two more runs in the home half of the second after a fielding error by Johnson C. Smith University allowed Shelby Pendleton to score.   The Hawks pulled ahead 6-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning after Tori Cragan scored on a fielding error. 
 
The Lady Golden Bulls got on the board in the top of the sixth after a triple by Ashton Byrd followed by a Hawk error made the score 6-1.  Johnson C. Smith plated two more runs in the top of the seventh inning using an error by Chowan.  Alora Lincoln ended the inning with a strikeout to give the Hawks the 6-3 win. 
 
Seven different Hawks accounted for seven hits in the victory.  Lincoln earned the win on the mound, scattering six hits throughout the contest.  Stacey Peralta took the loss for the Lady Golden Bulls. 
 
In the second game, Hannah Stutts' RBI single for St. Augustine's gave the Lady Falcons a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first.  The Hawks answered right back after Liz Hipple scored on a fielding error by the Lady Falcons in the bottom of the frame. 
 
St. Augustine's earned a 2-1 advantage in the second after Cierra Neal scored on a wild pitch.   Deja White led off third the inning with a triple and later scored on Renitt White's single to short, giving St. Augustine's a 3-1 lead.  Chowan responded with two runs in the bottom of the third when Leigh Ward scored on a throwing error, and Hannah Joyce knocked Hipple in on an RBI single. 
 
The game remained tied 3-3 through regulation.  Tori Cragan's single to right field in the bottom of the eighth inning secured the 4-3 win for the Hawks, advancing them to the semi-final game.  Courtney Groce earned the mound for Chowan.  Hipple and Joyce each notched two hits in the victory. 
 
The Hawks will take on Winston-Salem State in Friday in the winner's bracket semi-final match.  First pitch is slated for 12:30pm on the campus of Virginia State University.