Lady Mocs Defeat Phoenix in Softball Series Finale

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Elon University softball team was looking to finish out its three-game series at Chattanooga with a win but was not able to hold on to its early lead. The Lady Mocs (23-13, 8-2 SoCon) took the 9-2 win over the visiting Phoenix (17-11, 6-6 SoCon) to earn the series sweep.

Michelle Fuzzard moved to 9-6 on the season with the win after pitching four innings and giving up two runs off five hits. Erin O’Shea dropped to 10-7 for the season going 2.1 innings and allowing four runs off two hits. Taylor Deason earned her second save of the year after three innings of work.

Tomeka Watson went 2-for-3 for the Phoenix and scored one run. Carleigh Nester only recorded one hit in the game but scored both of Elon’s runs with her lone hit.

Camille Hill hit a leadoff single to third to start the game and then moved to third on a double to left field by Watson. With no out and two on, Nester tripled to right center push both runners across the plate and give the Phoenix a 2-0 lead.

After two and a half scoreless innings, the Lady Mocs put five runs on the board in the bottom of the third. Vivian Morimoto doubled down the right field line two score Chattanooga’s first two runs of the day. Karen Berna then took over in the circle for the Phoenix with two on and one out. Kasey Tydingco hit a home run to right center to score three more runs and but UTC on top, 5-2.

In the top of the fifth, Deason relieved Fuzzard for the Lady Mocs. After a single up the middle by Fuzzard in the bottom of the fifth to score another run, Kari Pervell moved into the circle for the Phoenix. UTC pushed another run across the plate off a single by Sarah Beth Roberts to left center for a 7-2 advantage.

Chattanooga made it a seven-run game in the bottom of the sixth off a double by Fuzzard and a single up the middle by Morimoto. Chelsea White pitched the bottom of the sixth for Elon.

The maroon and gold were not able to make a comeback attempt in the top of the seventh and finished with the 9-2 loss.

Elon will return to action on Wednesday, April 11, with a doubleheader at James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va., at 3:30 p.m.