South No. 1 Winston-Salem State 4, North No. 1 Chowan 3, 13 innings

PETERSBURG, Va. – In a classic matchup befitting two division champions, Tireka Brooks slapped a one-out single with the bases loaded to hand defending CIAA Champion Winston-Salem State a 4-3 win in 13 innings over Chowan in an elimination game on Friday at the Petersburg Sports Complex.

Brooks’ walkoff hit capped a brilliant performance by both teams and their respective starting pitchers. Winston-Salem State’s Brittany Lane, a First Team All-CIAA pitcher, earned the win after working all 13 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while fanning.

Lane made one mistake, serving up a three-run home run to Amber Matthews to tie the game at 3 in the top of the sixth inning.

Before then, it was all Lady Rams, who beat Chowan in the tournament final a year ago. Winston-Salem State, which was led with three hits each from Brittany Rich, Latoya Lynch and Francesca Edgerton, built a 3-0 lead through five innings.

But Chowan starter Alora Lincoln, who earlier in the day pitched a five-inning no-hitter, kept the Rams right there to give the Hawks an opportunity to rally for the win. Lincoln was tagged with the loss despite working 12 1-3 innings.

She scattered 16 hits and allowed four runs while striking out three.

Winston-Salem State will face Bowie State at 5:30 p.m. on the campus of Virginia State for the right to the play Virginia State in the championship round.