Elon 15, UNCG 0
Elon 1, UNCG 0
ELON, N.C. - After exploding for 12 runs in the first inning of game one en route to a 15-0 win, the Elon softball team went scoreless for the first seven-plus innings of game two, until Jackie Gonzalez ripped a one-out walk-off triple into the right field corner to lift the Phoenix to a 1-0 win over the visiting UNC Greensboro Spartans at East Field.
Elon improves to 28-22 overall and 11-12 in the Southern Conference with the two wins today, moving ahead of UNCG in the league standings, as the Spartans fall to 24-29 (10-13 SoCon). Dating back to last season, Elon has won its last five games against UNCG. With two wins today, the Phoenix has won its last nine games at East Field.
Game 1
Elon blew up for 12 runs on seven hits in the first inning to give the Phoenix a commanding lead early. The first seven batters reached base and 15 out of the first 16 batters reached base to plate the 12 runs, only one of which was unearned. A combination of singles, walks, and hit by pitches allowed the Elon batters to reach base. Kaitlyn Piazzolla and Pam DelPizzo both recorded RBI singles in the first and eight of Elon's nine batters drove in a run in the inning.
The Phoenix loaded the bases with one down in the third after Hannah Shelton reached on a fielder's choice, Piazzolla reached on an error and DelPizzo walked. Camille Hill walked to force home a run and Gonzalez ran out an infield single to plate an additional run to make it 14-0 game.
The maroon and gold added one more run in the fourth after Caitlin McGowan and Shelton singled to put runners at the corners with one down. Lafferty reached base on an error and advanced to second allowing one run to score to give the Phoenix a 15-0 advantage.
Erin O'Shea and DelPizzo combined to go five shut out innings on four hits for the Phoenix. O'Shea (11-11) went three innings on one hit and picked up the win while striking out four.
Piazzolla, DelPizzo, and Hill all registered a pair of RBI in the first game. DelPizzo went 3-for-3 for the game to highlight the 15-run attack.
The 15-run win for Elon is its largest margin of victory over a conference foe since topping Western Carolina, 18-2, last season.
Game 2
Elon looked to get the bats going in the fourth after McGowan walked to start the inning. Harrelson, who pinch ran, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a ground out with one out. But Elon could not push her across the plate, leaving the game scoreless.
The Phoenix threatened in the bottom of the fifth after putting two on with two outs following a fielder's choice by Hill and a bloop single to center by Danielle Lafferty. Elon nearly pulled off a double steal in the next at bat, but Hill over-slid third base and UNCG infielder Aisha Figueroa managed to tag her out to end the inning.
UNCG's Kristen Gable gave the Spartans a runner in scoring position in the top of the sixth with two outs after singling to right field and reaching second on a fielder's choice. But the threat would be short lived after a pop out to Piazzolla ended the inning.
After reaching on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning, Nester put Elon in scoring position again after stealing second base with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. But the Spartans got out of the inning without a run crossing the plate after Watson grounded out to end the threat.
The Spartans recorded the first extra base hit of the day and capitalized on an Elon throwing error to advance the runner to third in the top of the seventh after Alex Emeterio roped a leadoff double to the gap in left center. Following a walk to Merkt that put runners on the corners, Shelton prevented the game's first run after catching Heather Robb's fly ball in right and gunning down Emeterio at the plate with an amazing throw for the double play. From there, Kari Pervell, working her third inning of relief, struck out Eileen Horsmon to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
After Elon went in order in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings, Bedwell led off the Spartans in the eighth with a line drive base hit to left center. Bedwell moved to third later in the inning following a sac bunt and groundout to second, giving UNCG an opportunity for the game's first run. But Pervell proved to be too much for the Spartans inside the circle after striking out Langley to end the threat.
Following a one-out single by Lafferty in the bottom of the eighth, Gonzalez ripped a walk-off triple down the right field line to score pinch runner Lauren Oldham to give Elon the victory. Elon has recorded a walk-off win in its last three home series at East Field.
Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with an RBI in game two, while Lafferty also recorded a pair of hits.
Pervell improved to 3-0 this season in the circle after going the final three innings of the game and giving up only three hits and one walk, while fanning two Spartans. Taylor pitched five innings of one-hit softball for the Phoenix and struck out three.
Elon will play its final home game of the season tomorrow at 1 p.m. when it goes for the series sweep. Prior to the game, the team will honor seniors Hannah Shelton, Jackie Gonzalez, Caitlin McGowan, Emerald Graham, Lauren Taylor and Pam DelPizzo.
Chattanooga 12, Western Carolina 4
Chattanooga 13. Western Carolina 0
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (18-33, 3-20 Southern Conference) was swept by Chattanooga (37-12, 19-3 SoCon) 12-4, 13-0 Saturday at the Catamount Softball Complex. The two teams will be back in action Sunday for a single game at 1 p.m.
GAME 1
Chattanooga scored first, with a run in the opening inning of the game. Lyndsey Stiles hit a lead-off double and Sara Poteat was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Michelle Fuzzard hit an RBI single to right field to score Stiles.
The Lady Mocs looked poised to add to its early 1-0 lead but a nifty play by Catamount first baseman Amber Steinhardt helped stifle the threat. Tiffany Baker lined out to Steinhardt and she tagged Fuzzard for the double play. Vivian Morimoto ground out to second base to end the inning.
Western Carolina tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. Back-to-back singles by Kelly Braman and Steinhardt put the Catamounts in business. A Chattanooga error allowed Braman and Steinhardt to move to second and third with no outs. Starting Chattanooga pitcher Fuzzard notched a pair of outs and looked to squelch the Catamounts. However, Katie King had something to say about that. She laid down a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt and Braman raced home, and was safe when the Lady Mocs' attempted throw home was errant and Braman was safe.
Chattanooga re-took the lead in the top of the third, 2-1. With two outs, Morimoto hit an RBI single to score Poteat.
The Catamounts exploded for three runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Jordan Fulton hit a single to right field. Shemekia Scotton followed with a bunt single that pushed Fulton to second, and was replaced by Makenzi McAteer as a pinch runner. Fulton was erased on a fielder's choice hit by Braman putting Braman on first and McAteer on second. Steinhardt picked up her second hit of the game, lacing a double to left field scoring McAteer. Erin Foster hit her third triple of the season, scoring Braman and Steinhardt giving Western Carolina a 4-2 lead.
The Western Carolina lead was quickly erased in the top of the fourth inning. Chattanooga scored five runs to lead 7-4 in the fourth inning, paced by Morimoto's three run homerun over the right centerfield wall. The Lady Mocs added a lone run in the fifth inning and Jessica Traxler hit a grand-slam in the top of the seventh inning. It was the second homerun of the game for the Lady Mocs.
King went 3.1 innings giving up seven runs on 10 hits. She falls to 8-16 on the season. Bekah Burkett replaced King in the fourth inning.
GAME 2
Chattanooga continued the scoring in the first inning of the second game. The Lady Mocs had one run in the top of the first thanks to a solo homerun from Fuzzard.
A Catamount error in the top of the second, with two outs, afforded Chattanooga a chance to add two more runs. Flores and Fuzzard each had RBI singles in the two-run second.
Western Carolina had a scoring chance in the bottom of the second inning after Lady Mocs' pitcher Nikki Waters gave up back-to-back walks to Braman and Steinhardt with no outs. Waters recovered, forcing Foster and Amelia Griffin to strikeout and King to fly out to centerfield.
Fuzzard hit a base clearing double, tacking on three more RBI to her total, helping Chattanooga post five runs in the top of the third inning, pushing the Lady Mocs' lead to 8-0. The Lady Mocs posted five more runs in the fourth inning.
Steinhardt broke up Waters no-hitter attempt in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs, and a 1-0 count, Steinhardt hit a single to left field, the ball falling just inside the line.
Western Carolina threw three pitchers in the second game. Steinhardt took the loss, falling to 9-12 after going 2.2 innings allowing eight runs on nine hits. King and Burkett also saw action on the mound for the Catamounts.