March 29, 2010
Final Stats
FAYETTEVILLE - The Chowan softball team spoiled the final home games for three Fayetteville State seniors and swept a divisional doubleheader, 8-2 and 15-3, at L.R. Sanders field on Friday. Chowan moves to 18-17 overall and 12-0 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play while FSU falls to 12-18 overall and 5-6 in the CIAA.
In the first game, CU took a 3-0 lead into the third inning after scoring one in the first and two in the third.
In the bottom of the third inning the Broncos' April Branch (Pender, NC) hit a two-RBI single to center field that scored sophomore right fielder LaTonia Gatling (Suffolk, VA) and junior infielder Demarius Pankey (Laurinburg, NC).
Neither team scored in the fourth inning, but the Hawks tacked on two more in the top of the fifth inning.
Then, in the top of the seventh and holding just a 5-2 lead, CU's Mindy Byrd hit a three-run homer and gave the Hawks an 8-2 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Senior pitcher Tracey Brighter (Spring Lake, NC) pitched seven innings, struck out four and gave up six earned runs. Branch, Brighter, sophomore Misty Huber (Orlando, FL) and freshman Rita Diaz (Fayetteville, NC) each had one hit.
The Hawks' Christie Wright got the win after allowing one earned run and only four hits. Allie Kolezynski and Byrd both had three hits for CU. Byrd also had a game-high six RBI.
Game two saw CU jump out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning.
The Hawks scored at least one run in every inning, including six in the fifth. Byrd, Fahren Munro and Brooke Owen all scored three runs for CU, while Kaytee McLaughlin, Megan Wade and Tricia Gorman had two RBI apiece.
The Broncos answered with one run in the bottom of the first after Gatling crossed home plate thanks to a sacrifice fly from Branch. FSU's other two runs came in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Ashley Wlezen (Charlotte, NC) singled to right center and then freshman Ashley Vann (San Antonio, TX) doubled to right field giving the Broncos runners on first and second with no outs.
Two batters later, a throwing error on CU helped Wlezen score. Later in the inning, Diaz grounded to second scoring Vann. Gatling, Diaz and Branch had FSU's three RBI in the game.
