BOONE, N.C. – The Elon softball team’s struggles on offense continued on Sunday afternoon, March 20, as the Appalachian State Mountaineers hit three home runs to claim a 9-1 win and the series sweep over the Phoenix. The loss drops Elon to 13-10 on the season and 2-4 in Southern Conference play, while ASU improves to 10-13 (4-2 SoCon).

Elon got on the board quickly after a Pam DelPizzo solo home run over the left field fence, her first round-tripper of the year, gave the Phoenix an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.

But the Mountaineers immediately responded with a leadoff homerun from Katie Boyd in the bottom of the first to knot it at 1-all.

The game remained tied through the bottom of the third when ASU scored three runs to take its first lead of the game at 4-1. After the Mountaineers scored their first run of the inning, Elon made a pitching change bringing in #Erin O’Shea from the bullpen for Lauren Taylor#. App State scored two more runs before the inning was over to take a three-run lead.

Megan Rembielak hit a three-run home run off O’Shea in the bottom of the fourth to increase the Mountaineer lead to 7-1. ASU tacked on two more runs in the fifth to take the eight-run advantage at 9-1 and end the game after five innings. 

Taylor (8-5) picked up the loss for Elon after giving up four runs on four hits in two innings of work. Louise Gibson (3-3) picked up the win for ASU after tossing a complete game with two strikeouts. 

Elon will play a series at non-conference opponent Charleston Southern on Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26. Both days’ games are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.