ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team dropped game one of a doubleheader with the Georgia Southern Eagles on Saturday afternoon by a 3-2 margin. The Phoenix led game two 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning before the contest was suspended due to heavy rain in the area.

The loss in game one dropped the Phoenix to 17-15 on the season and 2-8 in Southern Conference play. GSU improved to 22-21 this year and to a 10-3 conference record.

Elon starter #Erin O’Shea# began the game by striking out the Eagles’ Marie Fogle, the national leader in first-inning lead-off home runs, and took Elon into the bottom of the first after recording her second strikeout of the game.

The Phoenix went up 2-0 in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run to left field by Tomeka Watson, her fourth round tripper of the year. Watson’s homer brought Camille Hill across the plate who had singled to right earlier to reach base.

After a scoreless second inning, the Eagles got on the board with a lead-off home run to center field to cut the Elon lead to 2-1. GSU threatened again in the fourth with runners at first and second and only one out, but O’Shea got the next two batters to strike out and kept the Elon lead intact.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Phoenix looked to score again when Jackie Gonzalez reached on a one-out single. After stealing second, Gonzalez advanced to third on a ball to right field by Carleigh Nester. Megen Smith then managed to get Hill to strike out and end the inning.

Another GSU solo home run, this one by Hanna Ennis, tied the game 2-2 in the top of the sixth. The Eagles took the lead in the seventh after a single to right field by Alexa Lewis brought Bethany Crenshaw sliding home. Elon catcher Kaitlyn Piazzolla was at the plate to make the play but Crenshaw’s slide knocked the ball out of her glove and gave the Eagles the 3-2 lead.

O’Shea (7-7) took the loss in the complete game after giving up three runs on six hits and striking out 10. Smith (2-5) got the win after going 6.1 innings and not allowing any runs to score off four hits.

Scoreless through four and a half innings, Elon took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth off a single to left field by Gonzalez that brought Pam DelPizzo safely across the plate from third. DelPizzo was walked to start the inning and then advanced to third off a double down the right field line by O’Shea.

The game was suspended due to rain as Watson went to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs and the bases loaded for the Phoenix.

Game two will resume tomorrow, April 10, at 12:30 p.m. at East Field. The series finale will take place approximately 20 minutes following the conclusion of game two.

-- ELON --