Softball Southern Conference

Elon Softball Drops Two To Campbell In Extra Innings

ELON, N.C. - The Elon University softball team fell in a doubleheader to non-conference opponent Campbell University on Thursday afternoon at East Field. Both games were forced into extra innings with the Phoenix coming up short 4-2 and 3-2. Elon falls to 28-28 on the season with the losses while Campbell moves to 29-25.

In game one, Elon started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Dani Concepcion scored on a single by Meredith Miley to give Elon the 1-0 lead. The Phoenix added another run in the second inning when Concepcion drove home Laurin Smith to give Elon the 2-0 advantage.

Campbell tied the game on two solo home runs by Chelsea Gates. The first round tripper came in the top of the third inning with two outs as she knocked the ball over the right centerfield fence to cut Elon's lead to one at 2-1. The second home run was in the top of the sixth inning when Gates led off the inning with a homer, tying the game at 2-2.

Elon pitcher Meredith Gay struck out two batters in the top of the seventh, but Elon was unable to put runs on the board in the bottom of the inning, forcing the game into extra innings.

Jessica Huffman was placed on second base for Campbell before Ashley Marley advanced her to third on a sacrifice bunt. In an attempt to intentionally walk Gates, Huffman crossed home plate on a wild pitch to give the Fighting Camels the 3-2 lead. Campbell added another run when pinch runner Samantha Crews scored on a single to centerfield by Stephenie Pappas to give Campbell the 4-2 final margin.

Lexi Myers (11-11) picked up the win for Campbell after throwing four and one-third innings in relief and giving up no runs on three hits while striking out four batters. Lauren Caviness recorded a save after throwing the final two outs of the game, getting each batter to pop up. Gay (12-10) suffered the loss for Elon after hurling eight innings and giving up four runs on five hits and striking out two.

Gates led the Fighting Camels from the plate, going two-for-two with two runs and two RBI. Concepcion led the Phoenix from the plate, recording one run and one RBI while going two-for-four.

Game two remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when Megan Borgaard led off the inning with a solo home run over the left field fence to put Elon ahead 1-0.

In the top of the seventh inning, Corri Long was hit by a pitch to get on base before she moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Laraine Fraijo. A single from Lindsey Landry plated Long to tie the game, 1-1. With the bases loaded, Crews drew a walk to score Landry and give the Fighting Camels the 2-1 lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Tracey Dahlen walked before Concepcion knocked a single up the middle to score Dahlen and tie the game at 2-2.

In the top of the eighth inning with a runners on second and third, Fraijo singled to left centerfield to score Erica Willis and take the 3-2 lead. The Fighting Camels were able to record three straight outs in the bottom of the inning to take the victory.

Caviness (11-6) recorded the win for Campbell after tossing eight innings and giving up two runs on six hits while fanning four batters. Whitney Meeks (8-10) suffered the loss for Elon, throwing two and two-third innings in relief and giving up three runs on four hits while striking out three. Carol Lilly pitched five and one-third innings for the Phoenix and gave up no runs on six hits while striking out two.

Pappas, Fraijo and Ashley Marley each recorded two hits for Campbell. Pappas tallied a run while Crews and Fraijo each notched a RBI. Borgaard led Elon from the plate, going three-for-four with one run and one RBI.

Elon returns to action on Saturday, May 7 in a Southern Conference doubleheader with Chattanooga at 1 p.m. at East Field.