Box Score

ELON, N.C. – A late seventh inning rally came up just short for the Elon University softball team on Sunday afternoon, April 3, at East Field, as the Phoenix dropped the final game of its three-game set against the Chattanooga Lady Mocs, 3-1.

Elon falls to 15-14 on the year and 2-6 in league play with the setback, while UTC improves to 25-8 (8-0 SoCon) after completing the sweep.

Down two runs heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Phoenix put a pair on with no outs after back-to-back singles up the middle from Kaitlyn Piazzolla and Hannah Shelton. But after Jackie Gonzalez moved both runners over in the next at-bat with a sacrifice bunt, Chattanooga relief pitcher Nikki Waters, who earned the game-two win yesterday, got back-to-back groundouts from Carleigh Nester and Tomeka Watson to end the threat and the game.

Piazzolla led the Phoenix at the dish, going 2-for-3, while Emerald Graham scored Elon’s only run of the game after hitting her sixth homer of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning. Graham went 1-for-3 in the loss.

#Erin O’Shea#, now 6-6 on the year, took the loss in the circle for the Phoenix after going all seven innings and giving up three runs on four hits and six walks and a hit batter, while striking out two. UTC’s Michelle Fuzzard earned her second win of the series to improve to 11-5 on the year.

Elon nearly capitalized on several illegal pitches from UTC hurler Michelle Fuzzard that moved Graham and Pam DelPizzo into scoring position at second and third in the bottom of the first, but Fuzzard managed to escape the inning without any damage to keep the game scoreless.

After belting three homers a day earlier in game one, the Lady Mocs used the long-ball once again to put the Phoenix behind today, as Jessica Traxler sent a 2-1 O’Shea offering over the fence in left field for a three-run homer to make it a 3-0 game in the top of the second.

O’Shea got out of jam in the top of the third to help Elon remain within three runs after UTC put runners on the corner with two outs. O’Shea induced a check-swing by Chattanooga’s Kasey Tydingo on the first pitch that led to a groundout to third baseman Caitlin McGowan to end the inning and the threat.

The Lady Mocs nearly capitalized on a pair of Elon walks and a hit batter in the top of the fourth, but the Phoenix turned an all-too-rare triple play to end the inning and keep it a 3-0 game. A ground ball to third led to a force and tag at third base from McGowan for the first two outs, followed by a throw to second base for the force out to end the inning.

Graham put the Phoenix on the board in inning later after smoking a solo home run well over the fence in center to make it a 3-1 game. The round-tripper marked Graham’s sixth of the year and 15th of her career, moving her alone into eighth all-time in Elon history.

Elon threatened in the bottom of the sixth after a leadoff line-drive single through the left side from Watson gave the Phoenix a spark. Watson stole second base later in the inning with one out to put a runner in scoring position for the maroon and gold. Waters struggled to find the strike zone from there, tossing six straight balls, including four to DelPizzo for the base on balls to put two runners on, until finally getting McGowan to foul off a pitch to put the count at 2-1. Waters regrouped from there, getting McGowan to strike out swinging and Camille Hill to groundout to second base to maintain a two-run lead heading into the seventh.

The Phoenix attempted a late rally in the bottom of the seventh, as back-to-back singles from Piazzolla and Shelton, who pinch hit for Danielle Lafferty, gave Elon a fighting chance. But after Gonzalez moved both runners over to second and third for the first out, UTC’s Waters managed to get the final two outs of the inning to secure the win and series sweep.

Elon is back in action on Thursday, April 7, for a doubleheader at home against NC Central. Game one is slated for 5 p.m. at East Field.