Hickory, N.C. – Lenoir-Rhyne (3-1) and Chowan (1-5) split a softball doubleheader Sunday afternoon in the Bears' home opener. The Hawks won in eight innings by a 5-2 score in the first contest while the Bears rallied to win the nightcap, 6-5.
Game One – Chowan 5, Lenoir-Rhyne 2 (eight innings)
The Hawks' Brook Bowen (Windsor, N.C.) hit a bases-clearing double in the top of the eighth inning to break a two-all tie as Chowan won in extra innings. Bowen finished with four runs batted in.
Lenoir-Rhyne senior first baseman
Sydney Landreth (Disputanta, Va.) drove in a run for the Bears while freshman
Sydney Miller (East Bend, N.C.) fell to 1-1 after taking the loss.
Chowan's Kayla Robins (Mathews, Va.) went the distance for the Hawks – striking out 14 batters and allowing just two runs – as the Hawks picked up their first win of the year.
Game Two – Lenoir-Rhyne 6, Chowan 5
Landreth came through with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Bears rallied from a 4-0 deficit to salvage the split. Landreth finished with three hits and three runs batted in. Miller (2-1) went the distance and earned the win for the Bears.
Chowan's Katrina Simmons (San Diego, Calif.) drove in three runs while Robins fell to 1-3 after suffering the setback.
Freshman outfielder
Savannah Davis (Bostic, N.C.) added two hits and two runs scored and crossed the plate to win the game for the Bears.
Lenoir-Rhyne returns to action on Friday, February 10, against Johnson C. Smith (Noon) and Mercyhurst (2:00 p.m.) as part of the Bear Bash at home. Chowan faces Mount Olive on the road on Wednesday in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m.
