Longwood 9, Elon 0
Longwood 4, Elon 0 (6)
ELON, N.C. - The Elon Phoenix suffered a pair of losses to the Longwood Lancers in non-conference softball action at East Field on Thursday evening. The Phoenix fell 9-0 in the first game before dropping a 4-0 decision in a weather-shortened second game. Due to inclement weather that hit the area, the game was called after the sixth inning. NCAA rules state that teams must play five innings for it to be deemed a complete game. Elon is now 24-10 on the year, while Longwood improves to 27-11.
Game One - Longwood 9, Elon 0
After loading the bases on a single, a walk and an error in the top of the third inning, Longwood pushed two runs across with a two-run single to left field by Ashley Kramer. A walk to Camille Ketsdever loaded the bases with two away, but Elon hurler Lauren Taylor got the final batter to groundout to end the inning.
Elon looked to cut into the Lancer lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when it used a Caitlin McGowan single and walk to Taylor to put two runners aboard. The Phoenix was unable to capitalize as the final batter grounded out to first baseman Courtney Long.
Longwood made it a 5-0 game with a three-run fifth inning. With one away and two runners on, Kramer singled to score Kami Nukols and put the Lancers up 3-0. Longwood added a run one batter later as Ketsdever singled up the middle to score Maggie Margadonna. Amy Betterton drove in the fifth run of the inning on a groundout that resulted in an inning-ending double play.
The Lancers added four runs on one hit, three walks and an error that allowed them to go up 9-0 in the top of the seventh. The Phoenix was unable to make the most of a one-out single by Hannah Shelton as the final two batters were retired.
Briana Wells improved to 21-5 with the complete-game shutout. She gave up just three hits and three walks while striking out seven batters.
Taylor suffered the loss to fall to 11-4 on the season. She gave up eight runs, five of them earned, on eight hits and four walks. She also struck out four batters. Kari Pervell saw time in the circle for the Phoenix as well. She gave up one unearned run in a third of an inning of work.
Game Two - Longwood 4, Elon 0 (Six Innings)
Longwood took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Nuckols reached on an infield single. As she attempted to steal third, Kaitlyn Piazzolla misjudged the throw, allowing Nuckols to cross home plate for the first run of the game.
Ketsdever opened the top of the second with a double to deep left center that was followed by a walk to Betterton. With one out, the Lancers executed a suicide squeeze that scored Ketsdever from third and put the Lancers up 2-0. With runners at the corners, DelPizzo pitched her way out of a jam as she retired the next two batters to end the inning.
After falling behind in the count at 0-2, Morgan Wright drew four straight balls that earned her a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third. With nobody out, Jackie Gonzalez laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Wright to second. With one away, Tomeka Watson was robbed of a RBI when Ketsdever made an over-the-shoulder grab in right field for the second out of the inning. Wright moved to third on the play, but was left stranded as the final Phoenix hitter was retired.
Elon picked up its first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Erin O'Shea singled to right field and moved to second on a fielding error by the Lancers. The Phoenix was unable to capitalize on the hit, as the next three batters were set down to end the inning.
Longwood made it a 4-0 game in the top of the fifth inning. Nuckols plated the first run of the inning on a Phoenix error before a Margadonna scored on a fielder's choice.
DelPizzo fell to 2-3 on the season with the loss. She allowed four runs, only one of which was earned, on seven hits and three walks. DelPizzo struck out two batters.
Wells picked up her second win of the day to move her to 23-5 on the year. She gave up just one hit and three walks and struck out three batters.
Elon will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when it hosts the Furman Paladins in a Southern Conference doubleheader that is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
No. 17 Tennessee 14, Western Carolina 0
No. 17 Tennessee 11, Western Carolina 0
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Western Carolina softball (4-30) was swept by No. 17 Tennessee (31-7) 14-0, 11-0 Thursday at Lee Softball Stadium.
In the first game, Tennessee scored 14 runs on 16 hits in five innings. The Lady Vols scored seven runs in the first, five in the second and two in the third.
Sophomore pitcher Katie King started the game and went one full inning allowing eight runs on eight hits and struck out one. King falls to 0-16 on the season. Amber Steinhardt replaced King on the mound and went three innings allowing six runs on eight hits and struck out one.
The Catamounts had two hits in the game. King had a hit and Danielle Reese picked up a single all in the second inning.
In the second game, Tennessee got on the board first with four runs in the first inning. In the third inning, the Lady Vols posted five runs.
Steinhardt started the game and went two innings before being replaced by Chere Monday in the third inning. Steinhardt gave up seven runs on seven hits and falls to 3-10 on the season. Monday closed out the game going two innings allowing two hits, two runs and struck out one.
Lady Vol pitcher Ivy Renfro tossed a near perfect game, as she did not yield a hit or a run but did give up one walk. She went five innings and struck out seven.
Western Carolina will host a Southern Conference series with College of Charleston Saturday and Sunday. The doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday and the single game at noon on Sunday.