ELON, N.C. – The Elon softball team will play a doubleheader at North Carolina A&T on Wednesday, May 2, at 3 p.m. before returning home for the first time in 11 games on Saturday, May 5. The Phoenix will close out the regular season beginning with a 1p.m. doubleheader of a three-game set against College of Charleston.
 
A Look at the Phoenix
Elon holds a 20-22 season record (8-13 SoCon) and is looking to break an eight-game losing streak on Wednesday against N.C. A&T. The Phoenix dropped a three-game series at conference leader Georgia Southern last weekend and is sixth in the conference standings. Tomeka Watson owns the best batting average on the team of .376 and has recorded 47 hits this season. The junior is seventh in the conference in individual batting.
 
Scouting the Aggies
N.C. A&T is 12-31 this season and is coming off a doubleheader loss at Presbyterian on Saturday. Juanita Jernigan leads the Aggies with 23 RBI and a .364 batting average, while Tranea Jones has recorded 40 hits. A&T splits its pitching duties between Ashira Dobison and Alexandria McAffe who hold a 5.27 and 7.83 ERA, respectively.
 
Scouting the Cougars
CofC sits third in the conference with a 29-19 overall record and 12-8 in league play. The Cougars host Charleston Southern on Wednesday for a doubleheader after an 11-day break. The last SoCon game CofC played was at UNCG on April 21 in which the two teams split a doubleheader. Carly Corthell leads the team in batting after hitting .442 in the month of April, while Stephanie Saylors leads the conference with a 1.56 ERA and owns a 16-10 record.
 
The Series
Last year’s doubleheader with the Aggies was cancelled due to inclement weather, making it the first time the two teams didn’t play since 1997. Elon owns the all-time record in the 40 games played, 32-8.
 
The last time the Phoenix and Cougars met it was in the 2011 SoCon Tournament. Elon came out with the win, 7-5. The maroon and gold also won the series in Mt Pleasant, S.C., last season, 2-1. CofC owns the all-time series, 16-13.
 
Senior Day
Sunday marks the final home game for seniors Danielle Lafferty, #Erin O’Shea and Kaitlyn Piazzolla#. Over the past four seasons, the trio has helped Elon to 103 program victories. Each player will finish her career in the top 10 in Elon’s career record book in at least one respective category – Lafferty (assists), O’Shea (appearances, strikeouts, wins, complete games, games started, winning percentage) and Piazzolla (putouts, home runs).
 
The Road to Boone
Next week will mark the 19^th annual Southern Conference Softball Championship. The 2012 edition will be played in Boone, N.C., and hosted by Appalachian State. The Phoenix won the championship in 2010 and advanced to its first NCAA Regional appearance.
 
The Bocock Box
Interim head coach Kathy Bocock is currently 20-22 at the helm of the Phoenix program. She holds a 256-418 career coaching record.
 
On Deck
After this week’s slate, the Phoenix will head to Boone, N.C., for the SoCon Softball Championship. Games will begin Wednesday, May 9, at Sywassink/Lloyd Stadium with the championship game scheduled for Saturday, May 12.