ELON, NC -- Freshman Whitney Meeks collected her first career shutout as Elon (3-2) defeated Marist (1-1) 4-0 in softball action from East Field on Sunday afternoon. Meeks (2-1) threw all seven innings and allowed only two hits, both singles, struck out nine Red Fox hitters and faced only two batters over the minimum.

After neither team could get anything going early, Elon began the bottom of the third with a single back up the middle from Dana Richardson (1-for-2, R). Jessica Swearengin (2-3, R, 2 RBI) then sent a line drive down the right field line that kicked into the corner for an inside-the-park homerun that also plated Richardson. Swearengin's home run was her first of the year.

In the next frame, the Phoenix began the inning with a Dani Concepcion (0-for-1, R, 2 BB) walk. After Concepcion swiped second Jamie Dupont (1-for-3, R, 2 RBI) launched a blast to straight-away center that cleared the fence, giving Elon its 4-0 lead. The homer was Dupont's second of the season.

From that point on Meeks kept the door closed on Marist. The first of the two hits she allowed came to the first batter of the game (Kathleen McEvily), while the second came with two outs in the top of the seventh off the bat of Bobbi Jo Gonnello. Meeks did not allow any walks and no Red Fox player advanced past first base.

Elizabeth Moyer (0-1) suffered the loss for Marist after pitching three innings. Moyer allowed two runs, both earned, on three hits. She also struck out four. Nichole Rawson pitched the final three innings for the Red Foxes, allowing two earned runs on one hit. Rawson mowed down three Phoenix hitters.

Earlier in the day Marist defeated Delaware State by a 2-0 margin on Elon's East Field. In that game both McEvily and Rawson went 2-for-3 for Marist while Danielle Blake (1-0) earned the victory in relief. Blake pitched four innings and allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out two Hornet batters.

Marist's Chrystine McHugh collected the only RBI in the win over DSU and Allison Bartley scored both runs.

Jessica Murray (0-2) took the loss for the Hornets after giving up two runs, one earned, on seven hits. Murray set down six Marist hitters.

Elon will return to action on Tuesday afternoon when they host Campbell at 2:00 p.m.

Game Box Score

--ELON--