MURFREESBORO, N.C. --- The Golden Eagles softball team kicked off their 2025 season with one impressive comeback win and very nearly earned another in the nightcap, but Clarion was kept from a doubleheader sweep over Chowan by darkness. The Golden Eagles won the first game of the twinbill 9-7 after a seven-run outburst in the seventh inning, but fell 8-7 in the five-inning late game.
 
Game 1: Clarion 9, Chowan 7
 
RECAP: Trailing 7-2 and down to their final two outs, the Golden Eagles exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead on the Hawks. Small ball got things rolling as Alexis Valencia led off with a bunt single and stole second, while Jordy Best drew a walk to put two aboard. Steals put both of those runners in scoring position for Emily Buchleitner, who drove a single up the middle of the infield to bring them both home and make it 7-4.
 
Haylie Rimmey's one-out single followed to put runners on the corners and chased pitcher Alex Bishop from the circle. Desi Allen hit a run-scoring groundout to score Buchleitner and the floodgates opened with three straight hits. Delanie Davison made it 7-6 with an RBI single to score Rimmey, and the duo of Angelina Pepe and Annika Smith hit back-to-back doubles to put the Golden Eagles ahead 8-7. An error allowed Smith to score from third base, giving Clarion a two-run advantage, and the Golden Eagles had a chance to tack on more when Valencia drew a walk and Best singled in their second plate appearances of the inning. Buchleitner could not take advantage, grounding out to end the inning with the bases loaded.
 
Pepe – who entered in relief of starter Emma Hipps – finished off the outing in the bottom of the seventh. After surrendering a one-out walk, she retired the next two batters via groundout to earn the win.
 
Smith finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs, while Davison, Best and Rimmey also contributed two hits apiece. Valencia and Best also stole a pair of bases.
 
Game 2: Chowan 8, Clarion 7 (5 inn. – called for darkness)
 
RECAP: The second game was action-packed from beginning to end as both sides continued to swing hot bats. Ava Mizell hit a one-out solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to kick off the scoring and Smith countered her with a solo shot of her own, driving a ball over the fence in left field to lead off the third inning and tie the game.
 
That led to a three-run third inning for Clarion, with Buchleitner hitting a sacrifice fly to score O'Horo and Rimmey pulling a single into left field to bring Valencia across. The Hawks enjoyed their own offensive explosion in the bottom of the third, scoring seven runs on four hits to take an 8-3 lead.
 
The Golden Eagles' second home run of the game came off the bat of Davison, who drove the first home run of her career over the fence in centerfield to make it 8-4.
 
With the sun setting quickly, the Golden Eagles made a valiant attempt at completely erasing the deficit and evening things up with the Hawks. Avery Bellish scored Buchleinter on a fielder's choice after the former reached base on an error at shortstop, and Smith singled up the middle to bring Bellish home and make it 8-6. O'Horo lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Davis home and make it a one-run game, but Valencia was retired on a grounder to end the inning. Ainsley Perdicaris held the Hawks scoreless in the fifth inning, but the game was called due to darkness.
 
Smith went 2-for-3 at the dish with two RBIs and a run scored, while Davison was also 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored.
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