Results from Sunday's SoCon Series Finales

Lady Paladins Avoid Sweep, Down Phoenix 4-1

ELON, N.C. -- The Furman Lady Paladins scored three runs in the final three innings to turn a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 win over host Elon in Southern Conference softball action from East Field on Sunday afternoon and avoid the three-game series sweep at the hands of the Phoenix.

Dani Concepcion led off the bottom of the first with a single for Elon (27-17-1, 9-6 SoCon) and was then erased at second on a fielder's choice from Jenny Gustin. After Jamie Dupont was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced on a wild pitch, the Phoenix had runners on second and third with only one out. After a strike out, Christina Melton singled up the middle to plate Gustin with the game's first run. The Elon rally was then snuffed out with another K by Furman pitcher Rachel Henley.

Furman (12-37, 5-7) evened the score in the third after LaKerah Barr singled to lead off the inning and stole second. A sacrifice bunt from JoDee Eichelberger advanced Barr to third. Megan Jaudon then hit a fly ball to left that was deep enough to score Barr.

Danielle Franklin led off the fifth inning with a single for Furman and then advanced to second on a sacrifice and to third on a bunt single from Barr. With one out, Eichelberger singled to right to score Franklin with the eventual game-winning run. Eichelberger was erased on the play trying to advance to second. Elon shut the door there, however, as Phoenix hurler Jen Lamb got Jaudon to foul out to first.

After a scoreless sixth, Furman added two insurance runs in the seventh to seal the victory. With two outs and a runner on first, Eichelberger singled up the middle on a 2-2 pitch to put runners at first and second. Jaudon then doubled to left center, scoring both runners.

The Lady Paladins outhit the Phoenix 9-5 on the day and made no errors to Elon's one. Barr finished the day 3-for-4 with one run scored. Eichelberger also tallied a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-2 with a run and one RBI. Elon's five hits were collected by five different players, including Christina Melton who went 1-for-3 with one RBI.

Henley claimed her ninth win of the season, improving to 9-17 with the complete game. She allowed one earned run on five hits while walking only one and fanning seven.

Lamb suffered the loss, falling to 6-6. She went the distance, giving up four earned runs on nine hits. Lamb walked two and struck out one.

The Phoenix will travel to Chattanooga for a SoCon series next Saturday and Sunday. Games begin at 1:00 p.m. both days. Furman will visit South Carolina for a 5:00 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday.


Chattanooga Softball Runs Win Streak to 12

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.