The UNCP softball team split a two game series on Feb. 21 against Chowan at Hawks Field.
Chowan came out strong in the first matchup of the series and took a quick 8-3 victory over the Lady Braves.
The Black and Gold were able to answer in the next matchup with a dominant 12-2 victory over the Hawks.
Game one
In the opening inning of the first game of the series, Chowan scored three quick runs to take the early lead over the Lady Braves.
UNCP was unable to answer back until the third inning of play with a run of their own, however, in the bottom of third the Hawks offense scored another three runs to stretch their lead to 6-1.
The one run for the Lady Braves came off a single up the middle from Abbey Walters, which brought in Jamie Johnson for the score.
The final runs of the game for both teams came in the sixth inning. They each scored two runs and the game finished with the Hawks taking the 8-3 victory over the Lady Braves.
UNCP’s Katie Saunders started at pitcher for the Lady Braves. However, after struggling in the first two innings of play, she was pulled out of the game for Walters.
Game two
Things turned around quickly for the Lady Braves in the second game of the series with Chowan.
They finished off Coker in only five innings of play and won the matchup 12-2.
The Black and Gold marked up 15 hits in the short contest and saw its offense erupt after struggling in game one of the series.
After scoring two runs to kick off the top of the first inning, the offense took off in the top of third inning with a seven run scoring outburst.
UNCP controlled the momentum throughout the contest that led to the 12-2 victory that gave the team the two game series split with the Hawks.
Many Lady Braves stood out in the game including Toni Nelson, Whitney Jackson, Jamie Johnson and Taylor Gerhart.
With four at bats, Nelson was able to record a hit every time she stepped up to the plate and Nelson also batted in two runners.
Jackson and Johnson each recorded two RBI’s as well, while Gerhart scored three runs for the Lady Braves.
The Lady Braves were able to outscore the Hawks 15-10 in the two game series.
UNCP now sits at a .500 record (5-5), along with a tie from a game against Coker University earlier in the season.
The Braves are next scheduled to compete in the Mid-South Classic on Feb. 26. They will face Catawba, Lincoln Memorial and no. 24 Southern Indiana.
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