Charlotte 10, Elon 2; Elon 5, Charlotte 4
CHARLOTTE, N.C. ? The Elon softball team bounced back from a 10-2 loss in game one to pick up a 5-4 win in game two as it stepped out of conference play to face Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C. Elon is now 12-18 on the season, while Charlotte owns a record of 22-11.
Leading the Phoenix in the twin bill was Brandi Jones who recorded four RBI and scored twice. Patti Weber drove in three runs on one hit with one run scored. Another bright spot for the Phoenix offense was Melanie Helterbran who was two-for-two with a double and two runs scored.
Jones two-run home run in the top of the sixth provided Elon's only offense in game one as the Phoenix fell 10-2 to Charlotte in game one of Thursday’s double-header.
The 49ers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second after Keri Palma scored on an RBI-single by Lorena Vela. The team would leave two stranded as Elon starting pitcher Erin O’Shea allowed the Phoenix defense to retire the final two batters.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, Jaime West tried to stretch a single into a double but a heads up play by Elon’s Jones and shortstop Danielle Lafferty allowed the Phoenix to record its second out of the inning by tagging West out at second. Sarah Malene singled to center to score Jenny Rumbles and give Charlotte a 2-0 lead. A pair of runs by Whitney Williams and West allowed the 49ers to take a 4-0 lead.
Brooks, who reached on a single, added a run in the fifth to give the 49ers a 5-0 edge after scoring on a passed ball.
In the top of the sixth, Helterbran drew a walk that brought Jones to the plate. Once there, she spoiled Emily Jeffery’s no-hitter by belting a two-out, two-run home run to left field that allowed Elon to cut the lead to three at 5-2.
Malene opened the bottom of the sixth inning with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Williams. Helterbran issued a pair of walks that allowed Malene to score to make it a 6-2 game. Tucker doubled to right center to score two runs and give the 49ers an 8-2 lead. Charlotte made it 9-2 on a RBI-single by Brooks. Charlotte earned its final run on a single by West that sealed the 10-2 win for the 49ers.
Jeffery picked up the win to improve to 16-5 on the season. She retired the first 17 batters she faced, registering 14 strikeouts, before allowing two runs on one hit. She also walked one batter. O’Shea suffered the loss to fall to 4-4 on the season. She allowed four runs on 11 hits in 3.2 innings of work. She also struck out one and walked three. Also appearing in the circle was Helterbran who allowed six runs, five earned, on four hits in 1.1 innings. She also issued four walks.
A three-run home run by Weber highlighted a five-run fifth inning that lifted Elon to a 5-4 win in game two.
Charlotte jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Kendra McCall reached on a walk and later advanced to second on a single by Palma. She scored on a wild pitch one play later.
Jaimie Rao recorded the Phoenix first hit of the game with a one-out bunt single in the top of the second. She would be thrown out at second when Kaitlyn Piazzolla hit into a fielder’s choice. Piazzolla was put into scoring position after Helterbran was hit by a pitch. The pair would be left stranded as the final Phoenix batter was retired.
Charlotte took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second after McCall reached on an Elon error to allow Brooks and Rumbles to score. Elon starting pitcher Pam DelPizzo struck out the final 49er to end the inning.
Both starting pitchers kept opposing batters at bay over the next two innings. That changed in the top of the fifth when Helterbran roped a double to left field for Elon’s second hit of the game. The Phoenix loaded the bases on a walk by DelPizzo and a single to left field by O’Shea. A two-RBI-single by Jones allowed the Phoenix to cut the Charlotte lead to one at 3-2. With runners at second and third, Weber launched a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall to give Elon a 5-3 lead.
Charlotte looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh, plating a run to make it a 5-4 game. Tucker doubled right center that scored Palma for the run.
DelPizzo continued her impressive performance from the circle, scattering five hits over the final five innings to seal the 5-4 win for Elon. She allowed three runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits to improve to 4-3 this season. She struck out two batters and walked five in the complete game. Katy Hackett fell to 5-4 with the loss. She tossed a complete game, allowing five runs on six hits. She also struck out eight and walked one.
Elon returns to East Field after a seven game road trip tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. for the first game of a three-game series with conference for Georgia Southern. The second game of tomorrow’s double header is slated for 6 p.m. The team will conclude the series Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.