North No. 1 Chowan 12, South No. 4 Johnson C. Smith 0

PETERSBURG, Va. -- Alora Lincoln fired a no-hitter and the Chowan bats came alive as the Hawks staved off elimination with a 12-0 thumping of Johnson C.

Smith in five innings in morning action at the Petersburg Sports Complex.

Lincoln (15-14) hit Samantha Smith to lead off the game, but then immediately settled down and retired the next 15 in order, facing just one batter over the minimum and allowing only one ball out of the infield. She struck out seven in five complete innings.

The Hawks, unbeaten in Northern Division play during the regular season, will play Southern Division champion Winston-Salem State in an elimination game at 12:30 p.m. at the Petersburg Sports Complex. The winner will play for the right to earn a berth in the championship round.

Chowan (25-25) immediately jumped all over Johnson C. Smith (17-27), batting around in the first and second innings, plating four runs in the first and six more in the second. Kayla Brady was 3-for-3 with three RBI for the Hawks, while Liz Hipple added two hits and two RBI. Leigh Ward and Amber Matthews also had two hits apiece.

South No. 1 Winston-Salem State 5, North No. 4 Virginia Union 3

Defending CIAA Champion Winston-Salem State jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the early innings and held on to stave off elimination and set up a matchup of division champions in the losers’ bracket after a 5-3 win over Virginia Union at the Petersburg Sports Complex.

Tanaya Pettus and Andreya O’Brien each had a pair of hits while Brittany Rich drove in two runs and the Lady Rams (26-17), the Southern Division’s champion, moved on to face Northern Division titlist Chowan in one of the more anticipated elimination games in recent memory.

Monet Daly allowed three runs – two earned – on five hits in five innings to earn the victory while All-CIAA First Team pitcher Brittany Lane worked two scoreless innings to pick up the save.

Winston-Salem State led 5-1 through four innings before Virginia Union (12-28) struck for two runs in the fifth to creep closer and chase Daly. But The Lady Panthers could get no closer.

Shireese Borden was 3-for-4 to pace Virginia Union at the plate.