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Elon Game Notes

ELON, N.C. – Winners of its last seven home games, the Elon University softball team is set to take the diamond at East Field for the final time this season, as the Phoenix hosts Triad rival UNC Greensboro on Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8. The Phoenix and Spartans will play a doubleheader on Saturday, with game one scheduled for 1 p.m. before wrapping up the three-game set on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Saturday’s doubleheader will be Elon’s “Strike Out Breast Cancer” day. The team has been raising money all season and will donate all the proceeds from its t-shirt sales to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Prior to game one at 1 p.m. on Saturday, former Elon outfielder and breast cancer survivor Shaunda Legg (2001 graduate) will be throwing out the first pitch.

Prior to Sunday’s game against UNCG, the team will honor seniors Hannah Shelton, Jackie Gonzalez, Caitlin McGowan, Emerald Graham, Lauren Taylor and Pam DelPizzo, who will play at East Field for the final time this weekend.

THE SERIES: Elon has played UNCG more than any opponent in its history, as the two teams have met 52 times going into this weekend. The Spartans lead the all-time series, 27-24-1, but Elon has won four out of the last five games against the Spartans, including back-to-back wins in the 2010 Southern Conference Tournament. The last time the Phoenix and Spartans met on the diamond was in the SoCon Tournament title game, as Elon came away with a 6-3 win over UNCG after a five-run seventh inning that included a three-run homer by Kaitlyn Piazzolla lifted the Phoenix to its first ever league championship.

THE RADUENZ FILE: Elon head coach Patti Raduenz is in her 11th season at the helm and holds a 273-323-2 career record. Raduenz passed former Elon head coach Sue Leonard for the most wins in program history on April 23 after the Phoenix completed a three-game sweep of Western Carolina with a 7-6 come-from-behind win.

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.

SOCON STANDINGS: Elon currently holds a 9-12 record in Southern Conference play, and if the tournament started today, the Phoenix would earn the No. 6 seed and would have a first-round game at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11, against third-seeded Georgia Southern. Chattanooga has already earned the top seed in the tournament and will play the third game of the day on May 11 against the winner of the 8/9 game.

FIRST YEAR SUCCESS: Outfielder Carleigh Nester is putting together an outstanding freshman campaign, as the rookie from Kernersville, N.C. ranks sixth in the conference in batting (.364), tenth in on-base percentage (.418), eighth in total bases (78) and is tied for ninth in hits (51) and tied for second in doubles (13). Nester had registered 15 multiple hit games this season and is batting .424 (25-for-59) at home with a .661 slugging percentage.

HOME SWEET HOME: During its current seven-game home winning streak, Elon is averaging over 10 hits per contest and nearly 5.5 runs per game, while limiting opponents to three runs per contest. The Phoenix pitching staff has combined for a miniscule 1.96 ERA during the streak and is averaging 7.1 strikeouts per game.