2011 Southern Conference Softball Tournament Website
Tournament Bracket
Elon Game Notes
ELON, N.C. – Currently riding a five-game winning streak, the Elon University softball team (29-22, 12-12) heads to Statesboro, Ga. this week for the 2011 Southern Conference Tournament looking to defend its title from a year ago. The fifth-seeded Phoenix will take on fourth-seeded College of Charleston on Wednesday, May 11, at 12 p.m. at Eagle Field in the first round.
THE SERIES: Wednesday will mark the 29th all-time meeting between the Phoenix and Cougars, as CofC leads the series, 16-12. Elon took two out of three games at CofC earlier this season and has taken four out of the last six meetings against the Cougars. Elon is 0-3 against CofC all-time in the Southern Conference Tournament, falling 8-0 in 2007 and 2008 after dropping a 3-1 decision in 2005.
ELON IN THE SOCON TOURNAMENT: Since the 2004 season, its first year in the Southern Conference, Elon has an 8-11 mark in the conference tournament. From 2004-08, the Phoenix went 1-2 in the tournament. In 2009, Elon dropped a 4-1 decision to Western Carolina, marking the last time the Phoenix did not win a game in tournament action. Last year, Elon went 3-0 en route to the title after posting wins over Georgia Southern and UNCG.
AWARD WINNERS: Outfielders Tomeka Watson and Carleigh Nester and catcher Kaitlyn Piazzolla were named second-team all-conference on May 9. In addition, Nester was one of 10 players in the league to be named to the all-freshman squad.
TAYLOR WINS NO. 4: Lauren Taylor captured her fourth SoCon Pitcher of the Week accolade on May 9 after a solid weekend against UNCG. Taylor posted a 1-0 record on the week in two appearances in the circle and finished with a 0.00 ERA. In the Phoenix sweep of UNCG, Taylor pitched 12.0 innings, struck out five batters and held hitters to a .128 average at the plate. In the series finale, Taylor pitched a complete-game shutout to give Elon the win and secure the No. 5 seed in the 2011 SoCon Tournament.
THE RADUENZ FILE: Elon head coach Patti Raduenz is in her 11th season at the helm and holds a 276-323-2 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.
GOING STREAKING: Rookie Carleigh Nester is currently riding a team-best seven-game hitting streak. During the streak, Nester is batting .591 (13-for-22) with three doubles, two home runs and five walks, helping Elon to a 6-1 record. Tomeka Watson has Elon's longest hitting streak of the season (12 games).
WRAPPING UP HOME ACTION: Elon finished the 2011 season with a 19-7 record at East Field, winning nine straight games to end its home slate. Last year, the Phoenix also finished with a total of 19 victories at East Field (19-9).
A TRIO OF ZEROS: In three games against UNCG this season, Elon outscored the Spartans, 23-0, marking the first time Elon has shut out a single opponent three times in one season since 2007 when the Phoenix opened the year with three straight wins over Savannah State. It marks the first time in school history Elon has shut out a league foe three times in one season.
TOUGH ENOUGH: Prior to this weekend’s series against UNCG, rookie Carleigh Nester was nationally ranked as the 13th toughest player to strike out. After this weekend’s series against the Spartans, Nester has struck out only six times in 149 at bats.
-- ELON --
