ELON, N.C.- The Elon softball team returns to East Field this weekend after an eight game road trip when they play host to the Mountaineers of Appalachian State. Saturday’s double-header will begin at 1 p.m. with the second game starting at approximately 3 p.m. The final game of the series is slated for 1 p.m. Sunday.
This weekend will also feature the annual “Phoenix Football Homerun Derby” that will pit selected football players against the pitching of head football coach Pete Lembo. The derby will take place between Saturday’s games.
Elon is owns an 18-19 record this season that includes a 6-6 mark in the Southern Conference. Appalachian State sits at 5-5 in league play and owns a 7-28 record overall.
The Phoenix come into the weekend after splitting a mid-week non-conference double-header against North Carolina A&T. Elon fell in the first game but bounced back for a 10-0 win in game two. Last weekend, Elon handed the conference-leading Chattanooga its first conference loss of the season with a 5-1 victory in the nightcap of Saturday’s twin bill.
Tracey Dahlen and Jackie Gonzalez each have a team-leading batting average of .348 this season. Dahlen, who also leads the team in hits with 39, owns 16 RBI and is 15-for-17 in stolen bases. Gonzalez, who went three-for-six against N.C. A&T, has three RBI on the year and has scored 14 runs for Elon.
In the circle, Pam DelPizzo leads the team with a 2.33 ERA in 72 innings of work. She has allowed 24 earned runs with opponents hitting .246 against her. Melanie Helterbran who owns a 6-7 record and a 3.89 ERA in 21 appearances.
The Mountaineers come to East Field having lost their last five games. The streak began April 13 when Furman took the final game of the series. The team sits just behind Elon in the SoCon standings at sixth.
Katie Boyd leads the team with eight homeruns, 22 RBI, and a batting average of .444. Kayla Richardson is ASU’s top pitcher with a 4-12 record in 116.2 innings of work. She owns a 4.02 ERA, with opponents hitting .232 against her.
Live stats and full coverage of the weekend’s softball action will be available at www.elonphoenix.com.
- ELON -
