Softball Southern Conference

Elon Falls at No. 6 Georgia in NCAA Regional, 10-4

ATHENS, Ga. - Playing in its first-ever NCAA Softball Championship game the Elon Phoenix dropped a 10-4 decision to Athens Regional host Georgia on Friday evening. Tomeka Watson went 2-for-4 with two runs, a RBI and a home run to lead the Phoenix at the plate.
 
Elon (38-20) will take on Radford (36-16) in an elimination game tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The winner of the game will take on the loser of the Georgia (44-11) and Florida State (44-16) at 5 p.m.
 
"I'm just really proud of our team," said Elon head coach Patti Raduenz. "They're a group of fighters and hung in there the whole game. We hit the ball well and I was very impressed with the way our defense stepped up. We have a lot of respect for Georgia. They're a great team and they can swing the bats very well."
 
Taylor Schlopy led off the bottom of the frame with an infield single and scored on a Megan Wiggins double off the left field wall that gave Georgia a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs made it a 3-0 game on a RBI-single by Ashley Razey and an Elon throwing error. Phoenix hurler Erin O'Shea caught the final Bulldog swinging to end the inning.
 
Elon scored two runs on three hits and an error in the top of the third that made it a 3-2 game. Danielle Lafferty led off with an infield single down the third base line. With nobody out and a runner at first, Watson laced a 2-2 pitch off of the left field wall that put runners at second and third and chased UGA pitcher Erin Arevalo from the circle. At the plate, Jackie Gonzalez hit a short infield single that loaded the bases for Elon. A throwing error by the Bulldogs plated Lafferty for Elon's first run of the inning. With Gonzalez and Watson in scoring position, Graham grounded out to second. During the play, Gonzalez looked to advance but slid under the throw to second, allowing Watson to cross the plate and make it a 3-2 game.
 
Brianna Hesson led off the bottom of the third with a hard-hit ball off the left field wall and tried to advance on the throw but was gunned down at second by Watson for the first out of the inning. UGA registered back-to-back singles that put a runner in scoring position. Watson turned an inning-ending double play after a fly ball pulled Kristyn Sandberg off the bag at second, allowing Watson to throw her out as she tried to make her way back.
 
UGA added four runs on a pair of two-run homers in the bottom of the fourth. Laura Trout led off the inning with a walk and scored when Schlopy sent a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall that made it a 5-2 game. Wiggins followed the home run with a walk that brought Alisa Goler to the plate where she belted the Bulldogs' second two-run home run of the inning that put Georgia on top 7-2.
 
The Phoenix got a run back in the top of the fifth when Watson connected with a leadoff home run, her eighth of the season, which made it a 7-3 game.
 
Georgia answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame that gave it a 9-3 edge. A walk and a double put runners in scoring position before a wild pitch advanced the duo for the run. The Bulldogs tacked their second run when Goler roped a stand-up double to left field that scored Wiggins.
 
Elon missed out on an opportunity in the top of the sixth inning when the first two batters were hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice and an unassisted double play at first ended any chance of an Elon run.
 
The last Georgia run was scored in the bottom of the sixth when Macie Couey scored on the throw to second that caught Hubbard stealing.
 
The Phoenix added a run in the top of the seventh that resulted in the final score of 10-4. Gonzalez got things started with a one-out single to first base that was followed by a walk to Caitlin McGowan. Emerald Graham followed with an infield fly that scored Gonzalez from second for the run. UGA pitcher Alison Owen caught the final batter swinging to end the game.
 
O'Shea fell to 17-9 on the season after giving up seven runs, six earned, on nine hits and four walks in 3.1 innings in the circle. Lauren Taylor also saw time in the circle for Elon, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks, in 2.2 innings in relief.
 
Sarah McCloud moved to 9-1 with the win. She gave up one run on three hits in four innings in relief. She also struck out five batters and did not surrender a walk. Arevalo and Owen saw time in the circle but did not factor in the decision. The duo combined for three runs on seven hits and four strikeouts.
 
"Every team here hits the ball really well, and if the fans want to see some action and balls put in play, this is the place to be," added Raduenz. "Tomorrow's game should be well-balanced and well-fought from both teams and it should be fun."