Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

CENTRAL, SC – Despite allowing a season-high in runs during the doubleheader, the Chowan softball team managed a series split with Southern Wesleyan, rallying from a nine run deficit to post a 13-12 win in the second half of a twinbill here Saturday afternoon.

Mckenzie Misenheimer led the Hawks at the plate going 6-7 with a double, a triple, three runs scored, and three RBI in the two games.

Serena Riley, Haleigh Reid, and Tessa Nicholson had three hits each. Two of Nicholson’s hits were doubles. Megan Leon drove home three runs in the series.

Alex Bishop picked up the save in the nightcap with a scoreless inning after coming in with no outs and runners on the corners. Haley Jensen collected her first career win in relief.

Southern Wesleyan were victorious in game one, taking control of the contest early by scoring 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning en route to a 22-5 win.

In appeared that game two would be a repeat as Southern Wesleyan raced out to a 6-0 lead after two innings of play.

Chowan answered in the top of the third inning as Lindsey Richter and Misenheimer produced one-out singles. Reid singled to plate Richter before Nicholson drew a walk to load the bases. Kaitlyn Matheny hit a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 6-2.

The Warriors would get those runs back in the bottom of the third inning to lead 8-2. They added three more in the fourth to build an 11-2 advantage.

Chowan mounted a rally in the top of the fifth after a SWU pitching change. Richter started the rally with a lead-off walk before scoring on Misenheimer’s triple to right center. Reid singled home a run before another pitching change. Nicholson picked up a single before Elizabeth Heller drew a walk to load the bases. Caston Garland drew a walk to plate a run before Riley plated a pair with a single to left, trimming Chowan’s deficit to 11-7.

SWU moved back to their starting pitcher in the inning who recorded a pair of outs. Chowan benefitted from two-run error followed by a single from Misenheimer that allowed the Hawks to trail by just one run, 11-10.

Nicholson sparked a rally in the sixth inning with a one-out double to center Matheny and Riley each drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Leon would unload the bases with a double to right center and take a 13-11 lead.

The Warriors closed the gap in the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run.

SWU made some noise in the bottom of the seventh as the Warriors picked up a pair of hits to lead off the inning. Bishop entered the contest with runners on the corners and no one out. Bishop handcuffed the Warriors with three straight pop-ups that never left the infield to pick up the save.

On Sunday, the Hawks continued their South Carolina road trip at Converse University. There, Chowan rallied in both games but dropped the doubleheader by scores of 9-8 and 6-5.

Chowan (15-14 overall) returns home for a pair of Conference Carolinas doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday as the Hawks host Francis Marion and Barton. First pitch against the Patriots on Saturday, April 1 is slated for 1 pm.