Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

ELON, N.C. – For the second straight weekend, the Elon University softball team needed a walk-off in the seventh inning to secure a win, as the Phoenix battled back from a three-run deficit in game two to register a thrilling 11-10 victory over Radford at East Field on Saturday, April 30, to take both games against the Highlanders.

Following a 5-1 win in game one, Elon trailed 10-7 going into the seventh inning of game two. The first five Elon batters reached base safely via hit or walk, until Pam DelPizzo delivered a bases loaded sacrifice fly to right to score pinch runner Lauren Oldham to lift the maroon and gold to victory over the team that ended its season a year ago in the NCAA Softball Championship.

With a home run in game one, senior Emerald Graham hit her 12th homer of the season, setting the Elon single-season record. Graham passes teammate Kaitlyn Piazzolla (2010) and Meredith Miley (2005), who each cracked 11 home runs in a season.

Elon improves to 26-22 with the pair of wins, while the Big South Conference leading Highlanders fall to 34-17. Elon has won its last seven games at East Field.

Game 1

Elon struck first in the second inning with a pair of runs, as the Phoenix put runners on second and third after a DelPizzo sac bunt moved over Graham and Piazzolla, who reached base via error and a single earlier in the inning. Camille Hill came through with a key two-run single up the middle to help the Phoenix take a 2-0 lead.

But Radford cut the deficit in half in its next at-bat to make it a 2-1 game. After a runner reached second on a throwing error, Nicole Beall doubled to center to limit Elon to a one-run edge.

But the Phoenix answered with a pair of round-trippers in the third to extend its lead. Carleigh Nester belted a two-run bomb over the fence in center to plate Jackie Gonzalez, who singled earlier in the inning.  Nester’s homer was followed by a solo shot from Graham, which gave the Phoenix a 5-1 lead – all starting pitcher #Erin O’Shea# would need.

O’Shea (10-11) hurled four scoreless innings after the third and earned the victory. She went seven strong innings in the circle allowing one run, none earned, on three hits while striking out eight.

Nester and Hill both went 2-for-3 and registered two RBI each to lead the offensive attack for the Phoenix.

Game 2

Radford responded in game two by getting on the scoreboard right away in the second game with three runs. Kristen Shifflett and Nicole Beal started off with back-to-back doubles that pushed across the first run. Following a walk to put runners on the corners, Michelle Beal singled up the middle to bring home the second run and put runners on the corners again. A sacrifice fly by Vicki Madden scored the third run to give the Highlanders a 3-0 lead.

Elon limited the deficit to just one run in the bottom of the third after Gonzalez and Nester recorded back-to-back singles to give the Phoenix momentum. Caitlin McGowan bunted the duo over to second and third to put Elon runners in scoring position. With two outs, Graham came through with a clutch two-run double to right-center to cut the deficit and make it a 3-2 game.

But the Highlanders quickly responded with three runs in the fourth to take a 6-2 advantage. Shifflett hit a solo shot to left and after a walk to the next batter, Cunningham came up with a two-run homer to silence the Elon faithful at East Field.

Elon looked to rally in the fifth when it put runners on first and second with one down on singles by Tomeka Watson and Graham before DelPizzo doubled down the left field line to push across one run. Following a walk to Hill to load the bases, Danielle Lafferty brought home another run on a sacrifice fly to left to limit Radford to a two-run lead, 6-4.

Radford added to its lead in the sixth after Cunningham and Keefe singled to start the inning and moved into scoring position on a fielder’s choice.  Hutchens then drove in two runs on a fielder’s choice that allowed both runs to score.

But the persistence of the Phoenix paid off, as a three-run sixth, led by a three-run homer to center by Graham, made it an 8-6 game headed into the final inning of play.

The Radford offense added a pair of runs in the seventh to make it 10-7. The Highlanders put runners at first and second before Cunningham doubled to allow the run to score.  After loading the bases again, Radford saw another run cross the plate via walk to take a three-run lead headed into the seventh.

Down three in the final inning, Lafferty and Gonzalez led off with back-to-back singles to give the Phoenix hope. Nester made it a 10-8 game after belting an RBI single through the ride side to pull Elon closer. Radford gave Elon its next run to make it a 10-9 game after a bases loaded walk to Watson following an error on a McGowan sacrifice bunt. Another fielding miscue from the Highlanders made it a 10-all game after Piazzolla hit a chopper to second base, which was bobbled by Beall. DelPizzo secured the come-from-behind win following a Graham fly out, as her sac fly scored Oldham to give Elon its seventh straight win at East Field.

DelPizzo (2-2) earned the win in relief for the Phoenix after going 3.1 innings and allowing three earned runs.

Graham went 4-for-8 with six RBI on the day including two homers. Five of the six RBI came in the second game.

Nester finished the doubleheader 5-for-6 at the dish with four runs scored, one double and one homer to go along with three RBI.

Elon closes out the regular season at home next weekend when it welcomes Triad rival UNC Greensboro to East Field, May 7-8. The Phoenix will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday, May 8, as the team honors seniors Hannah Shelton, Jackie Gonzalez, Pam DelPizzo, Lauren Taylor, Emerald Graham and Caitlin McGowan.