Elon 8, Campbell 6
Elon 5, Campbell 2
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Elon registered 29 hits over two games, including 16 hits in game one, as it handed the Campbell Fighting Camels a pair of losses in non-conference softball action in Buies Creek, N.C. The Phoenix avenged a pair of losses last season with a doubleheader sweep. Elon won game one 8-6 before taking game to 5-2.
Game One - Elon 8, Campbell 6
Trailing 3-1 heading into the top of the seventh, Kaitlyn Piazzolla and Ashlee Crewe took the first two pitches of the inning deep over the left field wall that tied the game at three. It was the second time this season that the Phoenix has recorded back-to-back round-trippers. Lauren Taylor retired the side in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.
With runners at first and second in the top of the eighth, Erin O'Shea laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position. Caitlin McGowan followed with a perfectly executed bunt single that scored Watson from third. Piazzolla put the ball in play with a sacrifice fly to left field that sent Emerald Graham home and put the Phoenix on top 5-3.
Keeli Michael made it a one-run game at 5-4 when Taylor was called for an illegal pitch. With two away, Robin Leathers loaded the bases when she reached on an Elon error. The error proved costly as the next batter drew a walk that scored Katie Hinton for the tying run, sending the game into the eighth with the score knotted at five.
An error by the Camels put runners at the corners for the Phoenix in the top of the ninth inning. With two away, Graham was intentionally walked that brought O'Shea to the plate with the bases loaded. Once there, she singled to shallow center that scored Taylor and Jackie Gonzalez and gave Elon a 7-5 edge. Graham scored the eighth run of the game on an infield RBI-single off the bat of McGowan. Elon gave up just one run in the bottom of the ninth to seal the 8-6, nine-inning win.
Elon took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Tomeka Watson found the gap at short with two outs in the top of the first. Emerald Graham followed with a one-run double into shallow left field that put Elon on top.
Elon pitchers O'Shea and Taylor combined to retire the first eight batters in order. O'Shea got the start and set down the first three including strikeouts of Sarah Forgacs and Lauren Stephan in the bottom of the first. Taylor came on in relief in the bottom of the second and registered four strikeouts before Cassie Webb drew a walk with two outs in the bottom of the third. The walk did not hurt the Phoenix as pinch runner Michael was caught leaving early at first to end the inning.
Elon's no-hitter came to an end in the bottom of the sixth when Brittany Stanley sent a 1-2 pitch into left field. With one away, Campbell loaded the bases on a single and an Elon error. A wild pitch scored the first Camel run of the game and tied the game 1-1. Campbell took a 3-1 lead on a two-run single by Stephan. New Elon pitcher Kari Pervell struck out the first batter she faced for the second out of the inning. She gave up a single to Leathers before getting the final batter to pop up to short to end the inning.
Taylor improved to 14-4 on the season with the win. In 7.1 innings of work, she allowed six runs, just two of which were earned, on four hits and five walks. She also struck out four batters. O'Shea and Pervell combined for 1.2 innings in the circle, giving up just one hit and striking out three.
Katie Woodcock suffered the loss to fall to 2-3 on the season. She surrendered five runs, three of them earned on five hits and a pair of walks in three innings of work. Brittany Stanley earned the start and gave up three runs on 11 hits and two walks. She and Woodcock combined for six strikeouts.
Game Two - Elon 5, Campbell 2
Campbell opened game two with a leadoff double by Forgacs. A single by Hinton followed the double to put runners at the corner. The Camels took a 1-0 lead when Forgacs stole home as Piazzolla threw to second in a pick-off attempt of Hinton.
In the bottom of the third, Hinton laid down a bunt single with one out. Following a pop up to second, Hinton was caught stealing for just the second time all season for the final out of the inning.
Elon scored two runs on five hits in the top of the fourth that helped it take a 2-1 lead. Graham led off the inning with a stand-up double off the left field wall. A single by O'Shea sent Graham around the bases but she was narrowly thrown out at home for the first out of the inning. The Phoenix tied the game 1-1 one play later when O'Shea scored from third on a RBI-single up the middle by McGowan. Piazzolla sent the first pitch she saw to deep center field for a double that moved McGowan to third. McGowan gave Elon a 2-1 lead when she scored on a RBI-single by Crewe. The five straight hits by the Phoenix chased Arnn from the circle, bringing new pitcher Stephan into the game.
Crewe added a run for Elon in the of the sixth inning with a RBI-double to deep center field that scored McGowan and put Elon out in front 3-1.
Woodcock made it a one-run game in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to left field.
Elon added two runs on three hits and two errors in the top of the seventh inning to take the 5-2 win. Taylor led off the inning with a single up the middle. Hannah Shelton came on to run for Taylor and later scored on a RBI-single by Graham. Elon scored its fifth run of the game when Watson crossed the plate on a RBI-single by O'Shea.
Pam DelPizzo struck out the first two batters she faced in the bottom of the seventh inning before surrendering a walk to Hinton.
DelPizzo moved to 3-3 on the season with the complete-game win. She allowed two runs to score on seven hits and two walks. She also struck out a season-high seven batters.
Arnn dropped to 1-5 on the season after giving up two runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings of work. Stephan also saw time in the circle, surrendering three runs on five hits and one walk.
Elon will continue it road trip this weekend when it returns to Southern Conference play against Chattanooga in Chattanooga, Tenn. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
Appalachian State 2, North Carolina A&T 1
Appalachian State 4, North Carolina A&T 2
BOONE, N.C. - Hannah Dow and Ashley Stubbs each pitched complete games as Appalachian State University softball took both games in a doubleheader versus North Carolina A&T, winning 2-1 and 4-2.
The Mountaineers (21-17) jumped on the Aggies (16-19) early in game one, scoring both runs in the first inning. Sarah Rappe led off the game with a single, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Megan Rembielak. Rappe scored on an RBI single by McKenzie Phillips, and Phillips scored on an Allie Cashion RBI double.
That was all the support Dow needed, allowing just one hit through the first four innings before allowing a run in the fifth. She scattered four hits and struck hit six in the victory.
ASU did not record a hit off Aggie pitcher Jennifer Luper after the first, but the Apps hung on for the victory.
Cashion had two double and two RBI and Stubbs allowed just two runs to lift Appalachian to a 4-2 win in game two.
NC A&T started the scoring in the second with a Jessie Larson RBI single, but ASU battled back in the bottom half of the inning. Cashion led off with a ringing double to right field and scored when Michelle Lighton reached on an error.
Lighton and Cashion got ASU on the board again in the fourth. Cashion led off with another double and scored on a single by Lighton. Lighton scored when Michelle Gorzelle reached on another Aggie error.
The Apps tacked on another run in the fifth with another RBI single from Lighton.
Cashion led ASU with a 3-for-3 day while Lighton and Phillips had two hits apiece. Danielle Nguyen had two hits to lead NC A&T.
Stubbs earned her first win of the season, going the distance, allowing six hits while striking out two.
Appalachian is back on the road Saturday as they travel to conference foe College of Charleston for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Presbyterian 9, Western Carolina 0
Western Carolina 7, Presbyterian 5
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Freshman speedster Jordan Fulton broke the school record for stolen bases in a single season, as Western Carolina softball (6-33) split with visiting Presbyterian (14-17), falling 9-0 and winning the night-cap 7-5, Wednesday at the Catamount Softball Complex.
Fulton had nine stolen bases before the doubleheader with Presbyterian. She erased the Catamount single-season stolen base record, in a season, in her first at-bat of the day. Fulton led off the bottom of the first inning with single past the short-stop and swiped second to give her 10 in a season and capture the record. She also recorded a stolen base in the second game against the Blue Hose and currently has 11.
As a team, Western Carolina struggled at the plate in the first game against Presbyterian. The Catamounts had just two hits in the game, one by Futon and one by Robyn Burnette.
Starting Catamount pitcher Katie King gave up a homerun to Amanda Miller in the first inning of the game to give the Blue Hose a 1-0 lead. King bounced back to toss three scoreless innings before she hit a snag.
In the fifth inning, Presbyterian tagged King for four runs and she was replaced on the mound by Bekah Burkett. Presbyterian would add four more runs in the sixth inning to shorten the game by one inning.
King took the loss in the game going 4.1 innings allowing five runs, four earned, on nine hits and striking out four. Burkett went 1.2 innings allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits and striking out three.
In the second game, Western Carolina's offense took charge in the first inning scoring three runs. Fulton led off and reached on a Blue Hose error and proceeded to steal her 11th base of the season. With one out, Haley Pace singled to right field, scoring Fulton and she advanced to second on a Presbyterian error. Pace scored on an RBI single by Colby Liles and Liles scored on an RBI single by Missy Wills.
Amber Steinhardt started for the Catamounts and held Presbyterian scoreless for the first two innings of the game. In the third inning, the Blue Hose cut the Catamount lead to one, 3-2, off a two RBI double by Rachel Parker.
In the top of the fifth, Presbyterian took the lead when it scored two runs to go up 4-3. A triple by Powell and back-to-back doubles by Miller and Taylor Staten accounted for the runs. Steinhardt was replaced on the mound by King who forced a ground out and a pair of strikeouts to get out of the inning.
The Catamounts re-took the lead in the bottom of the fifth with three runs. Steinhardt, who moved to right field, hit the first homerun of her career, on a 1-0 count, over the left field wall. A single by Pace and a walk by Liles set up the three RBI long ball by Steinhardt.
King got into a jam in the sixth inning, but a slick defensive play helped the sophomore lefty hurler get out of the inning. The Blue Hose got within one run when Powell hit an RBI single. With bases loaded, Miller hit into a double play when she ground the ball to the third baseman Pace, who tagged the runner at third and then tossed the ball back to short-stop Burnette for the second out. King got Staten to line out to the shortstop for the third out.
Burentte added an insurance run for Western Carolina with the first homerun of her career. With one out, she hit a homerun over the right centerfield wall in the bottom of the sixth.
King looked to close out the game in the seventh. With one out, she got into trouble again, loading the bases after Leslie Hensely singled, Lindsey Trombley walked and pinch hitter Morgan Durham was hit by a pitch. Burkett came into the game in a save situation and forced Brittany Howell to ground out to end the Blue Hose threat.
King takes the win on the mound and improves to 2-18 while Burkett earns the first save of her career. Shemekia Scotten, who has been sidelined for 16 games due to injury, got the start at second in the second game and picked up a pair of hits in the game. Pace led the club with two hits, two runs scored and an RBI.
Western Carolina hits the road this weekend to face UNC Greensboro. The Southern Conference three-game series begins with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday and a single game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
UAB 3, Chattanooga 1
Chattanooga 2, UAB 1
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Junior Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.) put the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team, who wore pink T-shirts for Breast Cancer Awareness, on top with a two-run home run in a 2-1 victory over UAB that was aided by a five hitter from junior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.). The Lady Mocs split the series at Frost Stadium dropping the first game 3-1, but banged out 10 hits and left nine on base leading to the doubleheader split.
"I was seeing the ball very well tonight," said Baker following the game-winning blast. "I had a decent hit to center, a hit to left and my timing was down. The homerun swing was big because I was reading the pitcher's body language and knew that my pitch was coming."
Aiding the Lady Mocs offense was junior Lauren Flores (Ft. Ogelthorpe, Ga.), who went 4-for-5 in the doubleheader along with a sacrifice hit. Baker was the run producer driving in all three runs for Chattanooga going 3-for-6.
"We had plenty of offense in the first game, but we didn't have it at the right time," said head coach Frank Reed. "We did the same thing at Georgia Southern. If we come through when we have runners on, then we win both games hands down. Instead, we find ourselves in a split."
With Waters picking up the five hit complete game victory, Chattanooga improved its record to 31-10 on the season, while UAB fell to 26-13 as both teams resume conference play this weekend.
"It's a conference matchup so everything matters," said Reed about hosting Elon. "We would love nothing better than to put some distance between them. They should be great games for people who want to come out and watch."
This weekend the Lady Mocs host a crucial Southern Conference series with second-place Elon. Saturday's doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m. is sponsored by the 3H Group, - "Hotels that work for you" - who will be on hand to give out 300 waters bottles to fans entering Frost Stadium. The finale of the three-game series begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Game One: UAB 3, Chattanooga 1
The UTC softball team scored the first run of the contest and compiled 10 hits, but stranded nine runners in a 3-1 loss to UAB. Flores led the team with a 3-for-3 performance, while Baker drove in the only run for the Lady Mocs on a sacrifice fly in the first.
The starting pitcher for the Lady Mocs was senior Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.), who went 4.2 innings and gave up three runs on four hits, while striking out three. Junior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) came on strong once again as a reliever tossing 2.1 innings without giving up a base knock.
Leading off the game for the Lady Mocs, junior Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) drew a walk and senior Kaiti Kelley (Chattanooga, Tenn.) singled to the second baseman, who was moving the cover the base as Stiles attempted to steal second. With a runner in scoring position, Baker singled up the middle plating the speedy Stiles from second, but a cutoff by the pitcher erased Kelley at second.
The Blazers tied the score at one in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly.
With one out in the fourth, Kayla Orr put UAB into lead in a hurry with a home run to left field. Pinch hitter Catherine Douglass had an opportunity to extend the lead, but third baseman Baker was able to snag a liner at her shoe tops with a runner on second.
Two walks and a single to left by Mandy Lowman plated the third run of the game for the Blazers, who took a 3-1 lead.
Alisha Smith was the pitcher for the Blazers throwing a complete game and striking out seven. Orr went 2-for-3 in the matinee including a solo homer.
Game Two: Chattanooga 2, UAB 1
A Baker two-run blast over the center field fence lifted the UTC softball team over UAB at Frost Stadium. Waters came through with another gem in the circle throwing a complete game five hitter against the Blazers.
The Soddy Daisy, Tenn., native threw 7.0 innings and struck out three, keeping the hitters off balance with a curveball and changeup as the Lady Mocs defense came up with 12 ground ball outs.
The Blazers scored first on a sacrifice fly to center during their first at bat, but were unable to consistently solve Waters scattering five hits in the contest.
Reaching third base in the fourth was Kelley after a leadoff single and advanced on a ground out and fly out. Kelley and sophomore Jenny Martin (East Ridge, Tenn.) would be stranded in the inning.
In the fifth, a throw right on the money from sophomore shortstop Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.) to senior catcher Lynleigh Hurndon (McDounough, Ga.) ended frame as UAB was poised to add to its 1-0 advantage. Hornsby, pinch ran after Sisson was hit by a pitch, was out on the play on an aggressive move by UAB head coach Marla Townsend,
After an infield single by freshman Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.), who advanced to third after stealing second and a wild pitch. Poteat was picked off with Kelley at the plate and Stiles on first via a walk to end the frame. On the play, Stiles was stealing second and catcher Mandy Lowman decided to throw down to third.
The two-run blast in the bottom of the sixth from Baker, the 12th of the season, scored Flores, who reached on a single to the second baseman in the hole up the middle.
At the top of the line up for UAB, Martina Landrum and Kate Armstrong combined to go 5-for-6 in the night cap, but the rest of the Blazer hitters were kept off balance by Waters.
Pitching for the visitors was Lauren Webster, who took the loss to fall to 12-5 on the season, fanning three batters.