Elon 13, Western Carolina 6
CULLOWHEE, N.C.- Melanie Helterbran’s two homerun performance that included a sixth inning grand slam sparked the Elon softball team to a 13-6 victory over Western Carolina. The Phoenix swept the Catamounts in what was the first conference series of the season for Elon.
Elon is now 14-9 this season, including a perfect 3-0 in the SoCon. Western Carolina is 6-20 in 2008 and is winless in the conference at 0-6.
Elon took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning after Allison Hartman opened the inning with a single and then advanced to third following a sacrifice bunt and a single by Caitlin McGowan. Hartman scored off a RBI single by freshman Pam DelPizzo. The Phoenix would not add to their lead as McGowan would be out at home on a fielder’s choice and the final hitter of the inning grounded out.
Patti Weber opened the third inning with a double to third base and scored two batters later when Hartman singled to right field with two outs. Hartman would be left stranded when the final batter was retired.
The Elon bats would remain quiet until the fifth inning. Weber was the first Phoenix to reach when she took advantage of a miscue by the Catamount shortstop, but would be called out at second on a fielder’s choice that allowed Debbie Zeigler to reach first. Helterbran took a pitch over the centerfield wall for her first multi-run homerun of the game to extend Elon’s lead to 4-0. Hartman followed the homerun with a double that forced the Catamounts to change pitchers. Hartman would remain at second when Rao struck out looking.
Elon’s offense erupted for five runs in the sixth inning. Jackie Gonzalez drew a lead-off walk to open the inning and advanced to third after DelPizzo laid down a sacrifice bunt and Lillt McDonagh threw a wild pitch. Brandi Jones then reached on a walk that was followed by a Tracey Dahlen single that loaded that bases. Gonzalez crossed the plate on a walk by Weber. With two outs recorded, Helterbran blasted a grand slam, her second round-tripper of the game, over the left field wall to clear the bases and give the Phoenix a 9-0 lead.
Western Carolina answered with five runs of their own in the bottom half of the sixth. Jamie Swank recorded Western Carolina’s fifth hit of the game when she doubled to left center to open the inning. She then scored following a single by Danielle Reese. A RBI single by Beth Hauser plated Reese, who advanced to second on a single by Amber Hawkins. Trailing 9-2, Western Carolina sent Mollie Fowler to pinch hit with no outs. Folwer drove a pitch into center for a RBI double that scored Hawkins for WCU’s third run of the game. Hauser scored on a wild pitch that narrowed the Phoenix lead to 9-4. Stephanie Beatty scored the final run of the inning when she singled up the middle.
Elon tacked on four more runs in its final at bat. Gonzalez singled with one out to spark the Phoenix seventh. DelPizzo doubled to left field to score Gonzalez from first. Jones drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Dahlen blasted a three-run shot over the left-centerfield wall for the team’s third homerun of the game. Leading 13-5, Western Carolina retired the final two Elon batters to end the inning.
Western Carolina looked to mount a comeback in the final half of the seventh inning. Reese led off with a walk and was put into scoring position after Hauser and Fowler drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Reese crossed the plate after Heather Pritchard reached on an error. Beatty ended the Western Carolina threat when she recorded the final out of the inning with a fly out to right field.
In addition to her offensive production, Helterbran also took the win for the Phoenix, improving her record to 5-3 on the year. She allowed five runs on nine hits while recording five strikeouts. Lauren Ross fell to 1-10 on the year when she suffered the loss. She allowed two earned runs off of seven hits in 4.2 innings of work.
Elon returns to the field Tuesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. when they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. to face North Carolina. Live stats will be available for the game at www.tarheelblue.com.
Western Carolina will take a few days off and be back in action on March 29 when the Catamounts travel to Chattanooga. The doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. against the Lady Mocs with the single game scheduled for 1 p.m. March 30.