CHARLESTON, S.C. – After dropping the first game of the day, the Elon University softball team found its stroke in the second game of a doubleheader at Charleston Southern to finish with a split with the Bucs on the day. The Phoenix dropped a close first game, 5-4, but stormed back off the arm of #Erin O’Shea# for a 6-0 win in the second contest. Elon is now 14-11 on the season, while CSU sits at 13-18.
O’Shea earned a complete-game shutout, her second of the year, after allowing just one hit in the second game and striking out four.
Tomeka Watson went 4-for-7 on the day for the Phoenix, scoring two runs and recording three RBI. Carleigh Nester also tallied four hits on the day, scoring two runs and bringing in two others. Pam DelPizzo recorded three RBI off three hits in her seven at bats.
Game 1
The Bucs got the scoreboard working in the bottom of the first inning with one run. CSU’s Jana Matthews hit a single through the left side with the bases loaded to push Kristin Kelleher across the plate for a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third, CSU pitcher Morgan Dowdy issued a leadoff walk to Jackie Gonzalez to give life to the Phoenix. Gonzalez then stole second and advanced to third off a groundout by Nester. A throwing error by Bucs’ first baseman Kristin Kelleher brought Gonzalez across the plate to tie the game up at 1-1.
CSU answered immediately in the bottom of the third with two runs to take a 3-1 advantage over Elon. A double to right field by Matthews drove in Lizzy Olmstead from second and forced the Phoenix to make pitching change. After DelPizzo relived Lauren Taylor in the circle, Matthews scored off a single by Melanie Stickney for a two-run edge. CSU added another run in the bottom of the sixth to increase the lead to 4-1.
Elon made a comeback in the seventh, recording three runs off four hits to tie the game. After Danielle Lafferty was walked to start the inning, Kaitlyn Piazzolla singled to first and advanced Lafferty to second. Gonzalez then singled to the pitcher to load the bases for Nester who sent the first delivery from Dowdy to left field for a RBI single that scored Lafferty. With two outs, Watson singled up the middle to push Gonzalez and Nester across the plate and tie the game for Elon, 4-4.
Being the home team, the Bucs still had an inning to take the win over the Phoenix before extra innings. With one out, Matthews sent her third hit of the day to right center for a walk-off solo homer to give CSU the 5-4 win.
DelPizzo (0-2) took the loss for the Phoenix after giving up two runs off three hits in four innings of work. Dowdy (5-11), who gave up four runs off eight hits, recorded the win for CSU after pitching the complete game.
Game 2
After three scoreless innings, Elon broke the game open with one run in the fourth to take its first lead of the day. Watson reached base after being hit by CSU pitcher Kimberly Hobbs and then advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by Gonzalez. After stealing third, Watson was brought home on a single by DelPizzo to give the Phoenix the 1-0 advantage.
With one out in the fifth, Emerald Graham hit an infield fly to second to advance Nester and Watson, who both reached on singles. Another single by DelPizzo, her second hit of the game, scored both runners and increased the Phoenix lead to 3-0.
Elon’s offense continued to bring in the runs, scoring two more off three hits in the sixth. Nester drove in Hannah Shelton, a pinch runner for Morgan Wright, off a single to center and placed runners on the corners for Watson. Watson immediately sent the first offering from Hobbs to right field to push across Gonzalez from third and make it a 5-0 edge for the maroon and gold.
A solo home run from Lafferty in the top of the seventh, her second round-tripper of the year, gave the Phoenix a commanding 6-0 lead.
O’Shea (5-4) earned win, while the loss went to CSU’s Hobbs (8-7) who gave up nine hits and five runs (one unearned) in six innings.
Watson went 2-for-3 at the plate in the second game, scoring two runs and recording one RBI. DelPizzo brought in three runs after going 2-for-4 at the plate.
The Phoenix and the Bucs wraps up the three-game series with a 2 p.m. finale tomorrow, March 25.
-- ELON –
