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| Statistical Leaders | | Elon | East Carolina | | BAvg | Hall (.353) | K.-Glackin (.352) | | Hits | Hall (48) | K.-Glackin (44) | | HR | Nester (12) | Lewis (10) | | RBI | Nester (35) | Lewis/Fieldhouse (35) | | IP | O'Shea (113.2) | Christian (118.0) | | ERA | O'Shea (2.96) | Christian (2.90) | | Wins | White (9) | Christian (15) |
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ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team will conclude its four-game road swing this week with a non-conference series at East Carolina starting on Friday, April 18, with a doubleheader at 5 p.m. The Phoenix and the Pirates will conclude the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. at ECU Softball Stadium.
Live CoverageFans can follow the Phoenix via live stats by going to the Elon softball schedule page at elonphoenix.com. The games will also be streamed through East Carolina's athletic website, ecupirates.com, through a paid subscription. Twitter updates will also be provided the handle @ElonScores or @ElonUSoftball.
Series HistoryThe Phoenix and the Pirates have met on the diamond 18 times prior to this weekend in a series that dates to 1998 in the fastpitch era. Elon trails 4-13-1 all-time to ECU, but the Phoenix won the most recent contest last season, 6-3, on Feb. 27, 2013. Then-freshman
Kayla Caruso allowed only two earned runs while earning the complete-game victory.
Last Time OutDespite taking an early 5-0 lead after the first two innings, the Phoenix fell late at Longwood by a score of 6-5 on Wednesday, April 16. Elon had a 5-3 advantage going into the bottom of the seventh frame, before the Lancers rallied with three runs including the walk-off single. Sophomore
Emily Cameron went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in three runs for the maroon and gold.
Scouting the Phoenix (21-21-1)Cameron's three RBI game against the Lancers was her fourth of the season and fifth multi-RBI game overall. The Kennesaw, Ga., native is currently second on the team in average at .327 and in home runs (seven) while leading the team in on-base percentage at .402
Senior
Carleigh Nester scored two of the Phoenix's five runs in the contest against Longwood and has a current four-game hit streak, two shy of tying her season-high. The Kernersville, N.C., native has a .300 average on the year and has set new single-season highs in home runs (12) and RBI (35).
Despite not hitting a home run on Wednesday, the Phoenix still ranks first in the Southern Conference in total homers with 44. The Phoenix is also among the top three in the league in slugging percentage (.424), stolen bases (43) and assists (365).
Junior
Caitlin O'Shea continues to have a career year in the circle, setting new single-season highs in innings pitched (113.2), appearances (28), starts (10) and wins while posting a team-low ERA of 2.96.
Scouting East Carolina (21-17)Voted to finish fourth in the 2014 Conference USA Preseason Poll, the Pirates are coming off a tough a tough road stretch going into the weekend, winning only one out of their last five games. However, second-year head coach Beth Keylon-Randolph's program has posted a 12-5 record at home.
At the plate, the Pirates are hitting just above .300 (.307) with Chelsea Kaluhiokalani-Glackin leading the way among the regulars with a .352 clip to go with 44 hits. Not too far behind is senior Jordan Lewis with a .348 average while being one of the team's top run producers with a team-best 10 home runs and 35 RBI.
Five players have toed the rubber for ECU this season, which has a 4.10 ERA as a staff. Sarah Christian leads the team in nearly every pitching category, including wins (15), ERA (2.90), innings pitched (149.2) and strikeouts (104).
On DeckThe Phoenix will be off for nearly a week before returning to SoCon play to host Samford in a three-game series beginning on Saturday in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Elon and the Bulldogs wrap up the series on Sunday, April 27 at 1 p.m.
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