Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After a late sixth inning rally from the Samford Bulldogs downed the Elon softball team, 3-2, in game one, the Phoenix offense exploded for seven runs on 13 hits in game two en route to a 7-1 victory on Saturday, April 16, at Bulldog Field.

Elon moves to 20-18 overall and 5-9 in Southern Conference play, while Samford moves to 10-31 (6-8 SoCon).

Game One

The Phoenix pushed a pair of runs across the plate in the top of the third to take a 2-0 lead over the Bulldogs, as Tomeka Watson delivered a two-run double down the left field line with two outs to score Carleigh Nester and Caitlin McGowan.

But Samford answered back and cut Elon’s lead in half in the bottom half of the inning after a leadoff triple from Kayla Shaffer led to a sacrifice fly from Brianna Chambers to make it a 2-1 game.

After relieving starter #Erin O’Shea# in the bottom of the fifth, Pam DelPizzo escaped a possible big inning from the Bulldogs after Samford put runners on second and third with one out. DelPizzo buckled down and induced a grounder to first base which led to the second out of the inning after first baseman Morgan Wright gunned down the runner at third trying to score at home. Elon got out of the inning in the next at bat after Alex Adams flew out to center field.

But the Bulldogs took the lead in the bottom of the sixth after a two-run home run over the center field wall by Lakan Smith put the Phoenix down, 3-2, heading into the top of the seventh.

Elon attempted to mount a late comeback after Danielle Lafferty began the inning with a leadoff single up the middle, but Samford starter Kayla  Burris managed to retire the next three batters to secure the game-one win for Samford.

O’Shea took the loss for Elon in game one and falls to 7-9 on the year after giving up two runs on four hits and one walk in five innings of work. Burris went the distance for Samford to earn the win and improve to 7-12 this season.

Watson led the Phoenix with a 2-for-3 clip at the plate, while McGowan, Nester and Lafferty each went 1-for-3.

Game Two

Down a run early after Samford recorded one run in the bottom of the second inning, the Phoenix answered in the top of the third with two runs following a two-run single from O’Shea that plated Nester and pinch runner McKenzie Harrelson to make it 2-1 game.

The Elon offense was not done, however, as the Phoenix scored in the next three innings to eventually take a commanding 7-1 advantage.

Ahead 3-1 heading into the top of the fifth inning, Elon put three more runs across the plate on five hits to take a 6-1 lead. Following back-to-back singles from DelPizzo and Kaitlyn Piazzolla to start the inning, Lafferty stepped to the plate and belted a 1-0 pitch over the fence in center field to give the Phoenix a five run lead late. The home run marks Lafferty’s third of the year.

The Phoenix added another run in the sixth to give starter Lauren Taylor a six-run cushion, as Emerald Graham got in on the action and hit a solo homer over the fence in center to make it a 7-1 game.

Taylor picked up the win for Elon to improve to 11-7 on the year after going five innings and giving up one run on one hit and a walk, while fanning five Bulldogs. Kari Pervell pitched two innings and gave up two hits and struck out one.

Nester went 3-for-4 for the Phoenix at the dish with two runs scored, while DelPizzo and Piazzolla both went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Lafferty finished the game 1-for-3 with three RBI.

Elon and Samford wrap up the three-game series tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Bulldog Field.