Longwood 7, Elon 4; Elon 10, Longwood 8
FARMVILLE, VA. - Kaitlyn Piazzolla, who went four-for-eight on the day, belted a grand slam home run in the second game of today's softball double-header against Longwood in Farmville, Va. The grand slam lifted Elon to a 10-8 in the game after falling 7-4 in game one. Adding to the hit parade was Ashlee Crewe and Lauren Taylor who each added a round-tripper in the second game.Elon improves to 8-12 on the season, while Longwood is now 10-13.
The Phoenix got things early in the first game of the day, plating two runs in the opening inning. Brandi Jones opened the game with a single up the middle. Patti Weber drew a walk to put runners at first and second. The pair rounded the bases after Piazzolla singled with two outs to right center. Jaimie Rao followed Piazzolla with a single of her own, but both would be left stranded as the final Elon batter grounded out.
Longwood scored two in the bottom half of the inning to tie the score at two. Nichole Simmons doubled down the left field line to open in the inning. She scored a batter later after Ashley Kramer singled to left center. Courtney Long flied out to left, allowing Kramer to score the tying run. Melanie Helterbran registered a strikeout of Wells for the second out of the inning. One runner was left on base in the bottom of the first after Tricia Nelson was caught stealing second by Piazzolla.
Elon tacked on its third run of the game in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Piazzolla doubled through the right side. She lated scored, unearned, on a fielding error by Longwood's left fielder. Rao, who reached on the same fielding error, stole second, but would not advance any further as Briana Wells struck out the final Phoenix batter of the inning.
Not allowing Elon to hold its lead, Longwood tied the game 3-3 in the bottom half of the third inning. Simmons reached on an Elon miscue and would score on a RBI-sacrifice fly by Long
Wells started things off with a single that was followed by a pair of fly outs. Kami Nuckols singed up the middle to put runners in scoring position and bring Simmons to the plate. Once there, she belted a three-run home run to left-field that allowed Longwood to take a 6-3 lead. Longwood added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth when Nelson homered to center.
Rao opened the sixth inning with a triple to center field. She would score one batter later as Helterbran hit a RBI-sacrifice fly to center, cutting the Longwood lead to three at 7-4. Elon looked to continue its rally after Danielle Lafferty reached on an error, but she would not advance further as the final Phoenix batter struck out. Despite a late walk by Weber in the seventh, Elon could not add to its score, allowing Longwood to take game one 7-4.
Piazzolla and Rao each recorded two hits in game one to lead Elon. Piazzolla also registered two RBI and scored once.
Wells earned the win to improve to 9-10 on the season. She threw a complete game, allowing four runs, three of which were earned, on five hits. She also struck out five and walked four. Helterbran recorded the loss to drop ti 3-5 on the season. She allowed six runs, five earned, on eight hits in four innings of work. She also struck out one batter and walked two. Also seeing time in the circle for Elon was Lauren Taylor who threw two innings and allowed one run on one hit.
Elon wasted little time in game two, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Jones opened the game with a double to left center that was followed by a bunt single by Jackie Gonzalez. Gonzalez advanced to second on a wild pitch. Weber then singled through the right side to score Jones from third. With no outs and runners at the corners, Crewe belted a three-run shot over the left field wall to give Elon a 4-0 lead. Following the blast, Piazzolla doubled to right field but would be left stranded as Wells, who came on in relief of Brittany Spencer, struck the final three batters out.
Longwood answered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs to make it a 4-2 game. Lashunda Davis singled to left field with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She scored a batter later as Camille Ketsdever doubled to left. Ketsdever scored on a single by Nelson.
The Lancers scored six runs on four hits in the bottom of the second that allowed them to take an 8-4 lead. Amy Betterton led things off with a walk and advanced to second after Simmons was issued a walk two batters later. Davis loaded the bases with a single to left field. Ketsdever followed with a single that allowed both Betteron and Simmons to score. Long reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Davis to score on a throwing error. Ketsdever was out on the play after she tried score but was called out at home. Nelson doubled to score Long for the fourth run of the game. The final two runs were plated following a two-run shot to left field by Emily Radford.
Taylor greeted the fourth inning with a solo blast over the right field wall to make it a 8-5 lead. With one out, Lafferty doubled to center that was followed with Jones reaching on an error by Longwood's third baseman. Gonzalez stepped up to the plate where she hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Lafferty and cut the Lancer lead to two runs at 8-6.
Both pitchers were able to keep batters at bay over the next two-and-a-half innings as neither team garnered a hit. That changed in the top of the seventh inning as the first three batters were each able to reach safely, allowing Piazzolla to enter the box. She promptly sent a pitch by Wells over the wall for a grand slam homerun, the second by a Phoenix batter this season, to seal the 10-8 win.
Erin O'Shea improved to 4-3 with the win. She allowed one run on three hits in five-and-a-third innings of work. She also recorded four strikeouts. Wells suffered the loss after pitching seven innigs and allowing six runs on five hits and three walks. She also struck out eight batters.
Piazzolla and Crewe each recorded two hits to lead the Phoenix lineup. The pair also combined for seven RBI and three runs scored.
Elon returns to the friendly confines of East Field beginning Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. for a three-game series against conference foe Chattanooga. The second game of Saturday's double-header is slated for approximately 3 p.m. The final game of the series will be played Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.