Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Elon University softball team could not overcome a near no-hitter in game one and a five-run third inning in game two on Wednesday afternoon, April 13, as the Phoenix fell 1-0 and 6-1 to the Charlotte 49ers in a mid-week doubleheader at the D.L. Phillips Complex.

Elon falls to 19-17 on the year, while Charlotte improves to 22-17.

Charlotte game-one starter Katy Hackett carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, until rookie Carleigh Nester broke it up with a single to right center field. The Phoenix put a runner in scoring position for the first time following a Pam DelPizzo single later in the inning, but Hackett managed to stay in the zone to record the two-hit shutout win.

The Phoenix struck first in game two, putting a run on the board in the top of the first, but the Niners answered with a one-run first and a huge five-run third to put Elon behind by a handful of runs.

Game One

The 49ers put the first run on the board in the bottom of the third after Whitney Williams roped a one-out double down the right field line off #Erin O’Shea# to put the first runner in scoring position of the game. Williams advanced to third on the next at bat after a fly out to right and scored on a Tenaya Tucker single up the middle to put Elon behind, 1-0.  Tucker finished with a game-high two hits.

Elon put its first runner on base in the top of the fourth after a two-out walk to Tomeka Watson gave the Phoenix momentum. But it would be short-lived, as Watson was caught stealing during the next at bat to end the inning and the threat.

The Niners threatened to extend the lead in the bottom of the sixth after putting runners on first and second with two outs. But DelPizzo, who moved from first to pitcher in the fifth inning, managed to escape without any damage.

Nester broke up Hackett’s no-hitter in the top of the seventh after belting a leadoff single to right center to begin the inning and give Elon a chance. After back-to-back fielder’s choice outs, the Phoenix put its first runner in scoring position of the game after DelPizzo singled up the middle to put two runners on with Watson at second.  But Hackett managed to get out of the seventh to preserve the game-one win and the shutout.

Hackett gave up two hits and one walk over seven innings, striking out eight batters to earn the win and improve to 15-9. O’Shea (7-8) went four innings for the Phoenix, giving up one run on three hits and two walks.

Nester and DelPizzo both finished 1-for-3 for the Phoenix in game one.

Game Two

The Elon offense produced early in game two, as Watson drove home the first run of the day after belting a one-out single to right field to plate Nester, who led off the game with an infield single and stole second in the next at bat.

But Charlotte answered in the bottom half of the inning after a Texas league single to left field by Kalie Lang with two outs scored one to make it a 1-1 game.

Williams helped the 49ers break the game open in the bottom of the third after leading off the inning with a triple over the head of Nester in center. Williams scored on the next at bat after a single through the right side by Kendra McCall past a diving Jackie Gonzalez made it a 2-1 game. Lang extended Charlotte’s lead later in the inning after a three-run homer to left put the Phoenix down, 5-1. The Niners tacked on one more run in the inning following an Elon pitching change that saw Kari Pervell take the circle for starter Lauren Taylor, making it a 6-1 game.

Watson managed to get into scoring position in the top of the sixth after reaching on an error and advancing to second later in the inning on a wild pitch with one out. But the Elon offense could not convert, as a Caitlin McGowan pop up and a deep fly out to center by O’Shea kept the Phoenix down five runs.

The Phoenix could not string together a late rally in the seventh, as Lang managed to hold Elon scoreless in the seventh to record the win.

Gonzalez led the Phoenix with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate in game two, while Nester went 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Elon resumes its current six-game road swing with a three-game set this weekend, April 16-17, in Birmingham, Ala. against the Samford Bulldogs.