Photo Gallery

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball teams added two more wins today, Feb. 11, in the second day of the Elon Invitational. The Phoenix (3-0) rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat North Carolina Central (1-2), 15-6, and sweep Georgetown (1-1), 8-0.
 
Sisters Caitlin O'Shea (1-0) and #Erin O’Shea# (2-0) recorded the wins for the Phoenix, combining for eight strikeouts.
 
Camille Hill and Carleigh Nester both finished the day with five hits. Hill scored a total of six runs and two RBI, while Nester crossed the plate three times and knocked in three more for the maroon and gold.
 
Game 1
 
After falling behind 3-0 to the Eagles in the top of the first, the Phoenix stormed back to score nine runs off seven hits in the bottom of the inning. A double up the middle by Kaitlyn Piazzolla drove in both Hill and Nester, who reached base on a walk and a single. Three batters later, Danielle Lafferty took a 1-1 pitch from NCCU’s Bianka Molina and hit it over the left field fence for a three-run shot and gave the Phoenix a 5-0 lead. After Hill singled to left to score Morgan Wright from second, Tomeka Watson sent the first pitch in her second at bat of the inning to right field for a single to that scored Lauren Oldham from third and Hill from first. Watson would score to make it a six-run game for the maroon and gold, 9-3, going into the second.
 
Oldham added another run for the Phoenix in the second inning after doubling to left field to score Johanna Spencer. Spencer had reached base earlier on a walk in the first at bat of the inning.
 
The Eagles answered in the third with two runs off a home run by Sarah Kaiser to cut the lead to five, 10-5.
 
Nester and Spencer both drove in runs in the third, while Spencer also scored on a throwing error by Eagles’ catcher Searls, to move the score to a 13-5 Elon lead.
 
N.C. Central scored one more run in the fourth, while the Phoenix added three in the bottom of the same inning. Watson, who relieved C. O’Shea in the top of the fifth, ended the game by striking out Searls on a 2-2 pitch, giving Elon the 15-6 win.
 
Nester went four-for-four at the plate against the Eagles, scoring two runs and knocking in two more. Lafferty’s home run gave her three RBI, while Watson also brought in three runs for the Phoenix.
 
C. O’Shea pitched four innings in her collegiate debut, giving up four earned runs on six hits and striking out two. Watson faced a total of four batters and recorded two strikeouts.
 
Game 2
 
E. O’Shea started the game against the Hoyas by striking out two of the four batters she faced in the first inning. Elon then went on offense and knocked in three runs off four hits. With the bases loaded, a wild pitch by Georgetown’s Hannah Slovacek scored Hill and moved Nester and Watson to second and third. With two outs, Cyra Cottrell was walked to once again load the bases as Spencer came to the plate. Spencer singled up the middle to drive in Watson and Nester and put the Phoenix up 3-0.
 
In the second, singles by both Hill and Watson put runners on for Nester, who hit a sacrifice bunt to score Hill and advance Watson to third. Piazzolla then singled up the middle on the first pitch to score Watson and give Elon a 5-0 lead.
 
With two on, two out and down 2-0 in the count, Hill got her third hit of the game by sending Lauren O’Leary’s pitch, who replaced Slovacek, up the middle for a single that scored one run and advanced another to second. Watson then hit a double to left center on a full count to bring in two runs and make it an 8-0 advantage.
 
E. O’Shea retired the batters in order in the fourth with three straight strikeouts and then retired the side in the fifth to end the game in favor of the Phoenix, 8-0, and give her six strikeouts in the shutout.
 
Both Hill and Watson went three for three in the game, with Hill scoring three runs and one RBI and Watson scoring two runs and bringing in two more. Spencer also recorded two RBI against the Hoyas.
 
Elon will play its final game of the Elon Invitational tomorrow, Feb. 12, at 2:30 p.m. as the Phoenix face N.C. Central once again at East Field.