ATHENS, Ga. – A nine-run seventh inning lifted the Elon softball team to a 14-6, come-from-behind victory over the Belmont Bruins in the final game of the Bulldog Invitational in Athens, Ga. The Phoenix went 2-2 at the tournament and improved to 10-3 on the season. Belmont dropped to 1-13.
After taking a 5-4 lead on a two-run home run by Kaitlyn Piazzolla in the top of the fifth, Elon added nine runs of insurance in the top of the seventh that gave the Phoenix a 14-4 advantage. During the offensive explosion, Belmont pitchers issued four wild pitches that resulted in four Phoenix runs. Emerald Graham scored twice on wild pitches, including the first run of the inning that put Elon on top 6-4. The next two runs were scored after Hannah Shelton doubled to center field, scoring Piazzolla and Carly MacDougall, who pinch-ran for Caitlin McGowan. With two away and runners at the corners, Tomeka Watson reached on a fielding error that allowed Shelton to cross the plate extending Elon’s lead to 9-4.
New Belmont pitcher Julie Harmon issued a pair of wild pitches and walked a batter that allowed Jackie Gonzalez and Watson to score Elon’s 10th and 11th runs. The 12th run of the game was scored after Piazzolla hit a two-out single to second base that scored Danielle Lafferty. Graham crossed the plate for the second time on a wild pitch to extend Elon’s edge to 13-4. With the bases loaded, Ashlee Crewe walked to drive in final Phoenix run, resulting in a 14-4 lead.
Belmont tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs on three hits that made it a 14-6 game. It was not enough, as Dawn Thorni stranded two runners with a groundout to the pitcher that ended the game.
The Bruins jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. A double by Brooke Babington and a walk to Ashley Smith put runners at the corners. With one out, Ashley Byers cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left field.
Elon began its comeback in the top of the second after Graham singled to center field and later swiped second. McGowan made it a 3-1 game with a groundout to second that scored Graham.
The Phoenix cut into the lead further, making it a one-run game in the top of the third inning. With one out, Gonzalez singled and moved to second on a Watson groundout back to the circle. With two away, Lafferty pushed Gonzalez home with a single, making it a 3-2 game.
After giving up the round tripper in the top of the first, Elon pitcher Lauren Taylor settled in to retire the next six Belmont batters in order, registering three strikeouts along the way. In the bottom of the third, Taylor’s dominating streak came to an end when she surrendered a walk and gave up a single that allowed the Bruins a two-run cushion, 4-2.
In the top of the fourth, an error and a wild pitch allowed Erin O’Shea to make her way to second. With two away, Shelton used a RBI single through the left side to plate O’Shea and make it a 4-3 game.
Taylor improved to 4-1 on the season after pitching a complete game. She allowed six runs on eight hits and five walks. She also fanned a career-best nine batters.
Devon Schmidt fell to 1-6 on the season, allowing five runs, four of which were earned, on seven hits in five innings in the circle. She also registered seven strikeouts. Byers threw two innings of relief, giving up seven runs, three earned, on four hits and three walks. Harmon closed out the game, surrendering two runs on seven hits and three walks.
Elon will return to action on Wednesday, March 10, when it returns to East Field for a doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky. The first game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., with the second following at approximately 4 p.m.
