Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two

MURFREESBORO, N.C – The Mercyhurst University softball team dropped a pair of one-run games today, Feb.10 against Chowan University.  The Lakers fell 7-6 in game one and 1-0 in the second.
 
The losses drop the Lakers to a 2-2 record on the season while it improves Chowan to a 2-4 overall record.
 
Both team erupted in the first inning of the first game.  The Lakers started the top half of the inning plating four runs before the Hawks came back to score three of their own.  Senior Samantha Eimers kick started the inning reaching with a single that she drove into leftfield.   Eimers would later score on a Jen Bower double.  Sophomore Courtney Smith sent a single down the right field line to plate the Lakers second run of the game.  Freshman Shaina Bunker added her own single down the right field line to score two Lakers and take a 4-0 lead over the Hawks. 
 
In the bottom half of the frame the Hawks sent three runs across home while registering just one hit.  Chowan capitalized on a few Laker miscues to bring the game within one after the first inning.
 
Scoring was delayed by good defensive play until the fourth inning when both teams tallied a run.  Mercyhurst would add one more run in the fifth with a leadoff homerun by Smith.  The homerun gave the Lakers a 6-5 lead heading into the bottom half of the frame. 
 
The bottom of the fifth started with back-to-back singles by the Hawks.  Megan Wade of Chowan used a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position.  The very next batter, Amber Matthews hit a three-run homer to put the Hawks on top 7-6. 
 
Chowan went on to win the game 7-6 after shutting the Lakers offense down in the last two innings of play.
 
Four Lakers recorded multi-hit games.  Bunker, Emily Redig, and Smith all went 2-4 while Eimers went 3-4 from the plate.  Smith drove in two runs while crossing the plate twice herself.
 
 Alora Lincoln of Chowan was credited the win after pitching all seven innings for the Hawks.  Lincoln gave up six runs on 12 hits striking out six.  Kristi Janoske started the game for the Lakers pitching four innings while giving up four runs on five hits.  Janoske struck out six in the process.  Megan Hopton was recognized as the losing pitcher in today's first game.  Hopton gave up three runs on three hits, pitching just one inning.  Freshman Annie Truelove also contributed in the pitchers circle.
 
The two teams played a tight second game with the Hawks prevailing after pushing a run across the dish in the fourth inning.  The Mercyhurst offense put a runner on third base during the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings but could not find a key hit to erase the shutout. 
 
Allie Kolezynski of Chowan struck out four in her seven inning appearance.  Kolezynski gave up five hits on the day and combined with her defense to shutout the Lakers.  Truelove was tabbed with the loss in six innings of work.  The freshman gave up just four hits while allowing one run. 
 
Mercyhurst takes the diamond tomorrow against Mount Olive College.  The twin bill is slated to begin at 1 p.m. at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.