Wednesday's Softball Action

Elon 4, North Carolina State 3 (8)
Elon 3, North Carolina State 2

ELON, N.C. - Jennifer Lamb fanned 11 batters in 11 innings as Elon swept a softball doubleheader from North Carolina State - 4-3 in eight innings and 3-2 - Wednesday afternoon at East Field on the Elon campus.

Lamb (3-0) went the distance in the extra-inning opener, scattering five hits to go with just one earned run and only one base on balls. In the second contest, a regulation seven-inning affair, she worked three scoreless frames and surrendered just two hits and one free pass to conclude the nightcap and earn a save.

Lamb logged seven strikeouts in the first game and four more in the second. Whitney Meeks (2-1) pitched four innings of one-hit softball to start the second game for the Phoenix (7-3-1) while tallying three walks and four strikeouts along with two earned runs.

Abbie Sims (2-3) permitted three earned runs on four hits and seven bases on balls in the first contest while striking out seven batters in seven and 2/3 innings for the Wolfpack (3-8). In the nightcap, Shaina Ervin (1-3) fanned nine Elon hitters in six frames while allowing three earned runs on four hits and two walks.

In the opener, Christina Melton blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to put the Phoenix up 1-0. Moffatt Steele scurried home from third base on an error by Lamb in the top of the seventh to even the score and eventually force the extra frame.

N.C. State claimed a 3-1 lead in the top of the eighth. Renee LaCroix doubled to center field to send Caroline Blount home from second and Heather Gelbard immediately plated her with an RBI single.

Elon answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring three times to claim the game one victory. Jamie Dupont drew a bases-loaded walk with no outs to score Dani Concepcion and cut the deficit in half. With the bases reloaded later, Lori Notaro used a two-out walk to send Nicole Ellis home and tie the contest. Jennifer Massey singled to shortstop to plate Jenny Gustin for the game winner.

The Phoenix exploded for a three-run second inning to take charge early in the second contest. Natalie Layden belted a three-run homer to right center, scoring both Notaro and Suzanne Speed. Jennifer Chamberlin's two-run blast in the fourth - the first round-tripper of the Wolfpack's inaugural softball campaign - sent Steele across home plate and pulled N.C. State within one and determined the eventual final margin.

Elon returns to action when it hosts Delaware State 1 p.m. Sunday. The Wolfpack travels to the three-day Charlotte Tournament this weekend, first facing Miami at 11 a.m. Friday.


Chattanooga 6, Oakland 0
Chattanooga 7, Oakland 5

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.