No runs…no hits…no errors

Published 12:11 pm Sunday, February 5, 2023

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MURFREESBORO – Bailey Wilcox pitched the program’s third-ever perfect game as the Chowan softball team swept Virginia State in a non-conference doubleheader here Saturday afternoon to give Coach Junior Bailey his first wins at Chowan in his debut.

Chowan University’s Baily Wilcox became only the third pitcher in the school’s history as a NCAA Division II member to pitch a perfect game when she and the Hawks blanked Virginia State, 8-0, in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader in Murfreesboro. Photo courtesy of Chowan University

Wilcox, a junior right-hander, recorded a perfect game in game one, tossing 6.0 innings with 11 strikeouts and did not allow a baserunner in an 8-0 win. Wilcox joins Aubrey Hubbard (2016) and Lacey Wildeboer (2010) to throw a perfect game in Chowan’s DII history.

Freshman Haileigh Boone picked up the win in the nightcap, fanning five in a 9-1 win that completed the sweep,

Kyra Helton and Kira Soodek led the Hawks with three hits apiece. Helton added a double and a triple.

Hannah Moseley, Lindsey Richter, and Serena Riley added two hits each. Riley posted her first home run of the season and drove in four. Richter added three RBI.

The Hawks collected 13 stolen bases in the two games.

In game one, Chowan opened the scoring in the bottom of the second as Helton led off the inning with a triple to center and scored on Tessa Nicholson’s batted ball to lead 1-0.

Wilcox would sit the Trojans down in order via strikeout in the third inning. The Hawks continued the momentum in the bottom half of the inning as Peyton Rockwell raced to first base on an infield single. Mckenzie Misenheimer reached on an error and Soodek moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Riley’ three-run homer deep to centerfield extended the lead to 4-0.

In the bottom of the sixth, Helton would draw a walk and swipe second. Kendyl Elliott picked up a pinch hit single before Moseley was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Richter singled to score Helton before Abbie Sutton drew a walk to plate a run. Another run would come around to score on an error before Misenheimer hit a sacrifice fly to close out the win.

In game two, the Hawks would start the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as Soodek singled to center and swiped second. Riley hit a single down the left field line to plate Soodek for the 1-0 advantage.

Chowan would add to their lead in the second inning as Moseley singled to left and stole second. Moseley would swipe third before scoring on Alex Bishop’s infield single to lead 2-0.

Virginia State would plate a run in the fourth inning as the Trojans notched back-to-back doubles in the inning to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Chowan countered in the bottom of the fourth inning with four runs to lead 6-1. Helton reached on a bunt single and stole second. Moseley reached after striking out as Helton swiped third. Richter would pick up an RBI single. Caston Garland recorded an RBI ground out before Richter scored on an error.

The Hawks put away the game in the fifth inning as Soodek led off the inning with a single to center. Helton doubled to left field to score the pinch running Elizabeth Heller. Helton would swipe third before scoring on a fielder’s choice. Chowan finished the run-rule victory as an error in the outfield brought home the final run.

Chowan (2-0 overall) hits the road this coming weekend to take on Augusta and USC Aiken.