ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team kept within reach, but saw its offense silenced for much of the ballgame as East Carolina walked away with a 5-1 victory over the Phoenix on Wednesday evening, March 1, at Hunt Softball Park.
Elon fell to 5-11 on the season with the setback while the Pirates improved to 13-3 overall.
AT THE PLATE
• The Phoenix registered three hits in the game against the Pirates, tying for its second-lowest total on the season.
•
Drew Menscer,
Allee Seering and
Chloe Hatzopoulos each recorded a hit for the Phoenix. Hatzopulos added her third home run of the season while Menscer and
Claudia Penny reached on walks.
IN THE CIRCLE
•
Isley Duggins was handed the loss for Elon, falling to 1-4 on the season. The Burlington, N.C., native pitched 3.0 innings and gave up one earned run with a strikeout.
Meredith Wells pitched 4.0 frames in relief and also gave up one earned run with a strike out.
• ECU's Addy Bullis improved to 8-0 on the season with her complete game performance. The junior scattered three hits and struck out eight with only two walks.
THE RUNDOWN
• After both teams went down in order in the first inning, ECU opened the scoring in the top of the second. The Pirates' Joie Fittante led off with a single to center before being replaced by a pinch runner. A walk added a second runner on the bases for ECU before the pair advanced to second on a sac bunt. A walk loaded the bases before the Pirates scored on a Phoenix error to take a 1-0 lead.
• Elon looked to answer in its home half of the second. Penny and Seering opened the frame on a walk and a single, respectively, to give the Phoenix a chance to answer with no outs. The next two batters were retired before a base running error induced the third out and end the threat for Elon.
• The Pirates tacked on a second run in the top of the third. ECU singled to lead off the inning and had the runner advanced to third on a stolen base and a fly out. A double steal allowed her to score to give the Phoenix a 2-0 disadvantage.
• Another Elon miscue enabled a third runner to cross the dish for ECU in the top of the fourth with two outs. Bailee Wilson reached on a one-out walk and advanced to second on a groundout. A fielding error allowed her to score and put the Pirates ahead 3-0.
• The Phoenix got on the scoreboard in the home half of the fifth. Hatzopoulos worked a full count with two outs before connecting on her team-best third round-tripper of the season to bring the Phoenix within two, 3-1.
• East Carolina got a run back in the top of the sixth. Wilson scored for the second time as she took advantage of a wild pitch to plate the Pirates' fourth run with two outs to move ahead 4-1.
• A hit-by-pitch in the top of the seventh added an insurance run for ECU and Bullis, who sat the Phoenix down in order in the bottom of the frame to secure the 5-1 win.
ON DECK
Elon faces Piedmont Triad rival UNCG in a three-game set this weekend, March 4-5. The Phoenix and the Spartans begin the series with a twin bill on Saturday, March 4, at 1 p.m. in Greensboro, N.C., before concluding the series on Sunday, March 5, at 1 p.m. at Hunt Softball Park.
-- ELON --
