ELON, N.C. - Tomeka Watson’s fourth-inning, solo home run to left field was the lone hit of the game for Elon (26-11, 11-4), but it was all the Phoenix needed to pick up a 1-0 win in the rubber game of the Southern Conference series with Furman (13-17, 8-6). Elon has now won each of its five SoCon series.

It was a pitcher’s dual for the majority of the game, as the teams combined for just five hits. Elon got a complete game shutout out from Lauren Taylor, who improved to 12-4 on the year. The junior scattered five hits and struck out three batters in the win. She got help from her defense, as it turned one inning-ending double play and tallied eight groundouts and four pop outs.

Furman’s Lana Mackey also threw a complete game and dropped to 10-7 on the season with the loss. She surrendered just one hit and struck out five batters.

Elon put a base runner on in the bottom of the first and second innings when Watson and Kaitlyn Piazzolla reached on a walk and an error. Neither would score as Mackey and the Paladins settled in to retire the final batters.

Morgan Hughey led off the top of the fourth inning with a double off of the left field wall and moved to third on a wild pitch. Taylor and the Phoenix shut down the Paladins, as the next three batters were retired in order, ending any chance of a Hughey scoring.

The Paladins looked to answer in the top of the fifth inning when Hannah Bradley drew a one-out walk. The Elon defense continued its stellar play, turning a 6-4-3 double play that ended the inning.

Elon tried to add to its lead in the sixth inning when Watson drew a walk and moved into scoring position on a stolen base. The final two batters were retired, leaving Watson stranded at second.

The Phoenix begins a five-game road trip on Wednesday April 14 when it travels to Buies Creek, N.C. to take on Campbell University.