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Elon Game Notes

ELON, N.C. – After taking two out of three games at home last weekend in a key Southern Conference series, the Elon softball team jumps back into league play this weekend with a three-game series in Birmingham, Ala. against Samford. The Phoenix and Bulldogs will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 16, beginning at 2 p.m. before wrapping up the series on Sunday, April 17, at 2 p.m.

THE SERIES: Elon and Samford have a brief history, having met only five times on the diamond prior to this weekend. Samford leads the all-time series, 3-2, but Elon took two out of three games last year against the Bulldogs at East Field.

ON DECK: Following this weekend’s series at Samford, the Phoenix wraps up its six-game road swing with a trip to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina on April 20 at 7 p.m. Last year, Elon claimed a 1-0 win over 20th-ranked UNC at East Field behind #Erin O’Shea#’s complete game five-hit shutout performance. Elon’s lone run came in the third inning via a solo home run over the fence in center field from Tomeka Watson.

THE RADUENZ FILE: The 2011 season marks Patti Raduenz’s11th season as Elon’s head coach. Raduenz currently holds a 266-318-2 career record. Raduenz is only four wins shy of passing former Elon head coach Sue Leonard for the most victories in school history.

ELON IN APRIL: Since 1992, Elon is 167-172-1 in the month of April. Last season, the Phoenix went 11-7 in the third month of play, while the team’s best performance came in 1997 when Elon went 13-4.

HOME SWEET HOME: Elon will return to East Field next week when it hosts Western Carolina on Friday and Saturday, April 22-23, for a three-game series.

THE ROAD TO STATESBORO: The Elon softball team will look to defend its Southern Conference title from a year ago this season in Statesboro, Ga., as the 2011 Southern Conference Tournament is set for May 11-14. All nine SoCon teams will participate at Eagle Field on the campus of Georgia Southern, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Regional softball tournament. This year will mark the 18th annual SoCon Softball Championship.