Lafferty Comes Through For Seniors as Phoenix Wins 3-0

ELON, N.C. - Powered by a three-run fourth, the Elon softball team ended its regular season with a 3-0 win over UNC Greensboro under cloudy skies Sunday afternoon at East Field. The win allowed the Phoenix to improve to an overall record of 15-31 that includes a 6-15 mark in SoCon play. UNCG falls to 24-31 overall and 9-12 in the Southern Conference.

Leading the way for the Phoenix was Danielle Lafferty who drove in two runs for the Phoenix on one-for-two hitting. Jaimie Rao recorded two hits and scored once.

Elon starter Erin O’Shea issued three walks in the top of the first inning, but got out of the bases loaded jam by getting the final batter to pop up to Ashlee Crewe at first.

Rao opened the bottom of the second inning with a double to deep left center. With two outs, Lauren Taylor drew a walk to put runners at first and second. The Phoenix was unable to advance the runners, as the final batter was retired on a popup to second.

The Spartans threatened in the top of the third with a walk by Lyndsay Mouse and a single by Jordan Jewett to put runners at first and second. O’Shea set down the next three batters, including two strikeouts, to end the inning before a Spartan run could score.

Elon posted three runs in the bottom of the fourth to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Patti Weber led off the inning with a walk. Two batters later, Rao beat out the throw from Emily Akiyama at third for a single that put two one. Crewe followed with a hit that dropped into shallow center for a single to load the bases. With two outs, Lafferty worked the count until she singled, scoring Weber and Rao to give Elon a 2-0 lead. Lafferty moved to second on the throw home that put runners and second and third. Hannah Shelton scored Crewe with a single for the final run of the inning.

Kaitlin Merkt led off the sixth inning with a single, but was left stranded at first as the final three batters were retired in order to end the inning.

Jacqueline Gonzalez made a pair of stellar defensive grabs and fielded a routine popup in the top of the seventh to seal the 3-0 shutout.

Erin O’Shea pitched a gem to pick up the win and improve to 7-10 on the season. Hurling a complete game, she scattered just four hits and struck out four batter. She also issued five walks. Cory Mattson suffered the loss to fall to 3-7 on the season. She allowed three runs on five hits in 3.2 innings of work. Also seeing time in the circle for the Spartans was Amber Harrell who allowed just one hit and four strikeouts in 2.1 innings.

The Phoenix will travel to Chattanooga, Tenn. for the 2009 Southern Conference Championship next week. The Phoenix will face Western Carolina at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning in a single-elimination game play-in game. It will be the first time that the teams have faced off this season, as the regular-season series was cancelled because of rain. For more information regarding the SoCon Tournament, please visit www.soconsports.com.

- ELON -

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