RALEIGH, N.C. – The Elon University softball team dropped two games in extra innings on Friday in the first round of the Triangle Classic. The Phoenix fell 3-2 to Campbell in nine innings in the first game of the day and lost to James Madison 5-3 in eight innings later in the day.
Campbell got off to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Megan Timpf knocked a solo home run to start the scoring for the Fighting Camels before a Holly Harris single to center field scored Stephanie Papas.
The Fighting Camels held the lead until the fifth inning when Debbie Zeigler knocked her first career home run over the center field fence to bring in Meredith Miley and knot the score at two apiece.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, with Timpf on second, Harris double down the left field line to score Timpf and take the victory 3-2.
Meredith Gay (0-1) suffered the loss for Elon after pitching three innings and giving up one run on one hit and striking out three. Whitney Meeks pitched five and one-third innings and gave up two runs on four hits and struck out three.
In the second game of the day, JMU led 1-0 after scoring in the bottom of the first inning. With the bases loaded, Megan Smith flew out to left field to score Briana Carrera. Elon left fielder Dani Concepcion threw in to Zeigler at catcher who then threw Kelly Berkemeier out at third to end the inning.
The Phoenix trailed the Dukes until the top of the seventh inning. With two outs, Concepcion singled through right side before Sadie Ball notched a base hit to put runners on first and third. Miley singled to right field to score Concepcion from third to tied the game and send it to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth inning, with Laurin Smith on third base, Nicole Ellis knocked a sacrifice fly to center field to score Smith and take a 2-1 lead. Then, with runners on first and third, Concepcion knocked a single to score Tracey Dahlen from third base and take a 3-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the inning, with the bases loaded, Campbell’s Ashlee Schenk flew out to center field to score Smith and cut the lead to one at 3-2. The next batter, Christina Massey, drove a pitch over the right center fence for a three-run home run and a 5-3 win.
Gay (0-2) records the loss for Elon after hurling seven and two-third innings and giving up five runs on 10 hits while striking out four. Liz George (1-0) tallies the win for the Dukes after throwing eight innings and giving up three runs on 12 hits and striking out three batters.
Concepcion led Elon’s offense, going three-for-four with one RBI. Ball hit two-for-four and Dahlen went two-for-three from the plate. Jaworski went three-for-four for the Dukes and Massey hit two-for-three with three RBI.
Elon returns to action on Saturday in the second day of the Triangle Classic when the Phoenix faces Howard at 10:30 a.m.
–ELON– Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
