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 PETERSBURG, Va. – The Â鶹ÊÓƵ Softball team avenged last season's CIAA Championship loss to Winston-Salem State with a 2-1 victory in the opening contest of the 2017 CIAA Softball Championships on Thursday, May 4.

THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 2, Winston-Salem State 1
LOCATION | Petersburg, Va. (Petersburg Sports Complex)
RECORDS | Chowan 33-18, Winston-Salem State 14-30

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
CIAA Pitcher of the Year, , kept the Rams hitters at bay picking up a season-high 16 strikeouts, while allowing one run off four hits in a complete game effort.  Robins improves to 21-8 on the season.

CIAA Player of the Year, , provided the go-ahead blow in the bottom of the sixth inning on towering solo home run to left center to put the Hawks up 2-1.

 and  recorded a hit for the Hawks.   and  reached on walks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Winston-Salem produced a threat to open the contest with a base hit up the middle and a walk with one out.   slammed the door shut with a pair of punchouts.

Chowan responded in the bottom of the first inning with  starting off the inning with a hit by pitch.   drew a walk to put Simmons into scoring position.   grounded into a fielder's choice pushing Simmons to third and eventually scored on a throwing miscue allowing Simmons to trot home for the opening run of the contest.

 would pick up the first hit for the Hawks in the bottom of the second but would be left stranded at first base.

WSSU tied things up in the top of the third inning after a walk started the inning.  WSSU's Chyna Riley doubled into the left center gap bringing home the tying run.  Riley advanced to third on the attempted throw home.  The Hawks defense would get out of the jam and stranding the runner 60 feet away.

The Rams looked to threaten again in the fourth inning after a one out walk and a hit by pitch sparked the rally.  WSSU pulled off the double steal but  closed the door with back-to-back strikeouts.

 broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth inning on a towering home run to left center to give the Hawks a 2-1 advantage heading into the seventh inning.

A pair of strikeouts and a flyout would secure the 2-1 victory for the Hawks and send Chowan into the winner's bracket.

UP NEXT
With the win over Winston-Salem State, the Hawks will face St. Augustine's in the winner's bracket on Thursday, May 4 at 2:30pm.