BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Elon registered 29 hits over two games, including 16 hits in game one, as it handed the Campbell Fighting Camels a pair of losses in non-conference softball action in Buies Creek, N.C. The Phoenix avenged a pair of losses last season with a doubleheader sweep. Elon won game one 8-6 before taking game to 5-2.
Game One – Elon 8, Campbell 6
Trailing 3-1 heading into the top of the seventh, Kaitlyn Piazzolla and Ashlee Crewe took the first two pitches of the inning deep over the left field wall that tied the game at three. It was the second time this season that the Phoenix has recorded back-to-back round-trippers. Lauren Taylor retired the side in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.
With runners at first and second in the top of the eighth, Erin O’Shea laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position. Caitlin McGowan followed with a perfectly executed bunt single that scored Watson from third. Piazzolla put the ball in play with a sacrifice fly to left field that sent Emerald Graham home and put the Phoenix on top 5-3.
Keeli Michael made it a one-run game at 5-4 when Taylor was called for an illegal pitch. With two away, Robin Leathers loaded the bases when she reached on an Elon error. The error proved costly as the next batter drew a walk that scored Katie Hinton for the tying run, sending the game into the eighth with the score knotted at five.
An error by the Camels put runners at the corners for the Phoenix in the top of the ninth inning. With two away, Graham was intentionally walked that brought O’Shea to the plate with the bases loaded. Once there, she singled to shallow center that scored Taylor and Jackie Gonzalez and gave Elon a 7-5 edge. Graham scored the eighth run of the game on an infield RBI-single off the bat of McGowan. Elon gave up just one run in the bottom of the ninth to seal the 8-6, nine-inning win.
Elon took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Tomeka Watson found the gap at short with two outs in the top of the first. Emerald Graham followed with a one-run double into shallow left field that put Elon on top.
Elon pitchers O’Shea and Taylor combined to retire the first eight batters in order. O’Shea got the start and set down the first three including strikeouts of Sarah Forgacs and Lauren Stephan in the bottom of the first. Taylor came on in relief in the bottom of the second and registered four strikeouts before Cassie Webb drew a walk with two outs in the bottom of the third. The walk did not hurt the Phoenix as pinch runner Michael was caught leaving early at first to end the inning.
Elon’s no-hitter came to an end in the bottom of the sixth when Brittany Stanley sent a 1-2 pitch into left field. With one away, Campbell loaded the bases on a single and an Elon error. A wild pitch scored the first Camel run of the game and tied the game 1-1. Campbell took a 3-1 lead on a two-run single by Stephan. New Elon pitcher Kari Pervell struck out the first batter she faced for the second out of the inning. She gave up a single to Leathers before getting the final batter to pop up to short to end the inning.
Taylor improved to 14-4 on the season with the win. In 7.1 innings of work, she allowed six runs, just two of which were earned, on four hits and five walks. She also struck out four batters. O’Shea and Pervell combined for 1.2 innings in the circle, giving up just one hit and striking out three.
Katie Woodcock suffered the loss to fall to 2-3 on the season. She surrendered five runs, three of them earned on five hits and a pair of walks in three innings of work. Brittany Stanley earned the start and gave up three runs on 11 hits and two walks. She and Woodcock combined for six strikeouts.
Game Two – Elon 5, Campbell 2
Campbell opened game two with a leadoff double by Forgacs. A single by Hinton followed the double to put runners at the corner. The Camels took a 1-0 lead when Forgacs stole home as Piazzolla threw to second in a pick-off attempt of Hinton.
In the bottom of the third, Hinton laid down a bunt single with one out. Following a pop up to second, Hinton was caught stealing for just the second time all season for the final out of the inning.
Elon scored two runs on five hits in the top of the fourth that helped it take a 2-1 lead. Graham led off the inning with a stand-up double off the left field wall. A single by O’Shea sent Graham around the bases but she was narrowly thrown out at home for the first out of the inning. The Phoenix tied the game 1-1 one play later when O’Shea scored from third on a RBI-single up the middle by McGowan. Piazzolla sent the first pitch she saw to deep center field for a double that moved McGowan to third. McGowan gave Elon a 2-1 lead when she scored on a RBI-single by Crewe. The five straight hits by the Phoenix chased Arnn from the circle, bringing new pitcher Stephan into the game.
Crewe added a run for Elon in the of the sixth inning with a RBI-double to deep center field that scored McGowan and put Elon out in front 3-1.
Woodcock made it a one-run game in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to left field.
Elon added two runs on three hits and two errors in the top of the seventh inning to take the 5-2 win. Taylor led off the inning with a single up the middle. Hannah Shelton came on to run for Taylor and later scored on a RBI-single by Graham. Elon scored its fifth run of the game when Watson crossed the plate on a RBI-single by O’Shea.
Pam DelPizzo struck out the first two batters she faced in the bottom of the seventh inning before surrendering a walk to Hinton.
DelPizzo moved to 3-3 on the season with the complete-game win. She allowed two runs to score on seven hits and two walks. She also struck out a season-high seven batters.
Arnn dropped to 1-5 on the season after giving up two runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings of work. Stephan also saw time in the circle, surrendering three runs on five hits and one walk.
Elon will continue it road trip this weekend when it returns to Southern Conference play against Chattanooga in Chattanooga, Tenn. Saturday’s doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
