GREENSBORO, NC -- Elon College junior pitcher Gina Krueger struck out a school-record 17 batters Wednesday afternoon as the Fightin' Christians swept a softball doubleheader from host North Carolina A&T at Nocho Field. Elon won by scores of 6-3 and 7-1.
Krueger came on in relief in the first inning of the opener, allowed one hit and no runs in 9 1/3 innings as Elon (4-4) rallied for a victory in 10 innings. Krueger broke the school mark of 15 strikeouts set by Cheryl Denny last season vs. Pace University (3/13/98).
The Aggies (0-6) plated three unearned runs in the first inning off of Elon starter Amanda Zentner. A&T starter Jennifer Jones had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning before Emily Hall broke it up with a lead-off double, but was thrown at third base trying to stretch it into a triple.
Down 3-0 going into the seventh, Elon rallied with a pair of runs on Jen Warren's two-run single scoring Gina Forcinito and Kristen Kendrick. The Fightin' Christians would later tie the game on a strange play. With the bases loaded and one out, Jessica Vanderploeg's line drive shot back to the box was caught by Jones, but her throw to third base to double-up Elon's Evie Benson to end the game was off line and went in foul territory allowing Benson to cross the plate with the equalizer.
Sophomore Shaunda Legg drove in the winning run in the 10th inning on a bases-loaded fielder's choice scoring Hall. Elon would add two more runs in that frame to end a three-game losing streak.
Krueger and Zentner combined for 19 strikeouts, which also sets a new Elon record.
In the second game, Benson went 2-for-4 with three RBI to pace the Fightin' Christians. Benson smacked a three-run double in the first inning as Elon posted four runs in the opening frame. Jen Warren went 3-for-5, while Hilary Shannon and Kristen Kendrick tallied two hits each.
Southpaw hurler Shawn Browne improved evened her record at 1-1, going the distance, scattering six hits, allowed one run and struck out three.
Elon returns to action this weekend when the play at the Ringor/Winthrop Invitational in Rock Hill, SC. Elon will square off against Virginia Tech, Tennessee Tech, College of Charleston and Southern Mississippi in round pool play, beginning with Friday's noon battle with Virginia Tech.
- ELON - GAME 1
Elon 000 000 300 3 6-8-3 A&T 300 000 000 0 3-3-2
E - Vanderploeg (EC), Godfrey (EC), McKenney (EC), Howard (AT), Jones (AT).
LOB - Elon 12, A&T 8.
2B - Hall (EC)
SB - Dixon (A&T)
SH - Vanderploeg (EC), Legg (EC), Howard (EC). SF - Forcinito (EC).
Win - Krueger 2-1. Loss - Jones
WP - Krueger 2 (EC). Jones (A&T)
HBP - by Jones (Godfrey)
Time: 2:18 Att: 54
GAME 2
Elon 400 200 1 7-11-0
A&T 000 010 0 1-6-4
E - Potts 2, Bullock, Lemons.
LOB - Elon 10, A&T 5.
2B - Benson (EC), McDowell (A&T).
SB - Lloyd (EC), Howard (A&T).
SH - Browne (EC)
Win - Browne 1-1. Loss - Hambright
WP - Hambright (A&T)
HBP - by Hambright (Lloyd)
Time: 1:35 Att: 54
