No. 4 UNC Greensboro 2, No. 3 Georgia Southern 1
No. 2 Elon 6, No. 4 UNC Greensboro 3
Game 5 Photo Gallery
Game 6 Photo Gallery
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Elon tallied five runs in the top of the seventh and claimed its first Southern Conference Softball Championship. The second-seeded Phoenix (38-19) topped No. 4 UNC Greensboro 6-3, eliminating the Spartans (27-30) from the tournament.
The 38 wins by the Phoenix are the most in program history.
Tomeka Watson led off for the Phoenix in the seventh with a double to right center. She was plated on a sacrifice bunt. Emerald Graham singled up the middle to bring in Jacqueline Gonzalez. UNCG brought in Amber Harrell to relieve Cory Mattson. Kaitlyn Piazzolla homered down the left field line, bringing in Graham and Caitlin McGowan.
The Spartans were able to get one on the board in the bottom of the seventh as Brittany Ausley reached base on a fielding error by second baseman Gonzalez. Ausley advanced to second when Kristen Gabel grounded out to second. Alex Emeterio singled through the right side to score Ausley. Lauren Taylor got Eileen Horsmon to ground out to second and Kaitlin Merkt struck out swinging to end the inning, giving the Phoenix the title.
Elon got on the board first as McGowan singled through the left side, bringing in Watson to give the Phoenix a 1-0 lead in the third.
UNC Greensboro responded in the fourth with two runs. With the bases loaded, Laura Olenderski walked to bring in Merkt. Elon brought in Taylor to relieve Erin O'Shea. Ausley grounded out to second, scoring Heather Robb. Taylor was able to strike out Gabel and end the inning.
Gonzalez led the Phoenix at the plate, going 3-for-4. Watson and Piazzolla each tallied two hits for Elon, while McGowan, Graham, Crewe and DelPizzo added one apiece.
Emeterio went 2-for-4 for UNCG with an RBI. Gabel, Horsmon and Robb each registered a hit.
Taylor earned the win, pitching 3.2 innings while giving up one unearned run. She struck out three. O'Shea registered two earned runs, walking four and retiring five.
Cory Mattson took the loss for the Spartans, giving up five runs, four of which were earned, in six innings of work. She tallied two strikeouts. Amber Harrell pitched an inning of relief, striking out one and surrendering one earned run.
With the win, Elon earned the league's automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Softball Championship.
In the earlier game, UNC Greensboro took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh and held off a late threat by Georgia Southern to win 2-1, earning a spot in the title game of the 2010 Southern Conference Softball Championship.
The fourth-seeded Spartans (27-29) will take on No. 2 Elon at 1:30 p.m. The Phoenix can clinch the title with a victory, but UNCG will need to defeat Elon twice to claim the championship.
Brittany Ausley stole home on a fielding error, maneuvering around Eagles' catcher Mackenzie Williams to touch the plate and give UNCG a 1-0 lead in the third.
Laura Olenderski tacked on another run for the Spartans in the top of the seventh. After reaching first on a fielder's choice, Olenderski stole second. Kristen Gabel singled to center, scoring Olenderski and giving UNCG a 2-0 advantage.
The Eagles (30-26) made a run in the bottom of the seventh, and with two runners on base, Nina Iduate singled to score Kelly Burnett. Marie Fogle flied out to right field, ending the game and eliminating GSU.
Amber Harrell pitched seven innings, surrendering seven hits and one unearned run. She struck out four and did not register a walk.
Brianna Streetmon suffered the loss, allowing eight hits and two earned runs in seven innings of work. She retired four batters and walked one.
Five Spartans tallied a hit, with Gabel, Alex Emeterio and Emily Akiyama each registering two.
Iduate finished 3-for-4 for the Eagles, while Sam Russo, Burnett and Williams each had one hit.
2010 Southern Conference Softball Championship All-Tournament Team
Megen Smith, Georgia Southern
Brianna Streetmon, Georgia Southern
Ashlee Crewe, Elon
Erin O'Shea, Elon
Kaitlyn Piazzolla, Elon
Tomeka Watson, Elon
Alex Emeterio, UNC Greensboro
Amber Harrell, UNC Greensboro
Eileen Horsmon, UNC Greensboro
Whitney Sirois, UNC Greensboro
Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Amber Harrell, UNC Greensboro