Elon Softball Opens Hunt Softball Park Versus Campbell

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team hosts the Campbell Fighting Camels on Wednesday, Feb. 20, in its home opener at its new stadium, Hunt Softball Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Coverage and Live Stats
Fans can follow the action of the game via live stats by clicking on the link at the top of the page or by going to the Elon softball schedule page at Elonphoenix.com. Twitter updates will also be provided at @ElonScores.

Series History
Wednesday’s matchup will be the 29th meeting between the two schools. Campbell holds a 20-7-1 advantage over the Phoenix in a series that dates back to 1993 during the fast-pitch era, but Elon has taken the past two recent contests. The two programs last met in 2010 where the maroon and gold swept the Fighting Camels in a doubleheader in Buies Creek, N.C., 8-6 and 5-2.

New Home, New Beginnings
For the first time since the softball program was started in 1975, the Phoenix will play its home games in a new facility at Hunt Softball Park, replacing East Field. The stadium is named for Vicky and Sam Hunt of Burlington, N.C., who gave lead gifts of more than $1.25 million for the project. Vicky Hunt is an Elon trustee and Sam is a local business leader and a softball fan.

Home Opener Domination
The Phoenix has not lost a home opener since 2005, winning seven straight in that span. Last season, Elon opened the year by winning five straight at home.

Coach Bo Knows
After serving as Elon’s interim head coach last season, Kathy Bocock returns for her second year at the helm of the softball program after the interim tag was lifted last summer. Bocock is no stranger to the program or the Elon community after spending three seasons as an assistant on the coaching staff prior to her time as the interim coach.

Scouting the Phoenix
Elon is 1-3 on the young season and last played on Feb. 9 versus Winthrop at the Red and Black Showcase in Athens, Ga. The Phoenix upset host and then eighth-ranked Georgia, 5-2, on Friday, Feb. 8. Tomeka Watson and Emily Cameron both hit home runs in that contest to give the maroon and gold its first ever win against the Bulldogs and against a top-10 opponent in program history.

Watson added another home run against Winthrop and has 22 for her career, four shy of tying Brandi Jones’ (2006-09) program record at 26. The senior outfielder leads the team with a .417 batting average, four RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage.

Cameron is tied for second on the team in RBI and is third with a .300 batting average. Grace Eng hit her first career homer against Ohio State on Feb. 8 and is tied for second on the squad in RBI and has a .714 slugging percentage.

Sophomore Chelsea White has seen the most time for the Phoenix in the circle this season with 12.0 innings of action. The Salisbury, N.C., native picked up the complete game win against then No. 8 Georgia, allowing only one earned one and striking out a career-high seven batters.

Scouting the Fighting Camels
Campbell has posted a 6-2 record this season and won its most recent contest on Sunday, Feb. 17, versus Middle Tennessee State, 11-6, at the Georgia Softball Classic. The Fighting Camels went 2-2 overall in the tournament at Jack Turner Stadium, with losses coming to Northwestern and host No. 13 Georgia.

Raven Lee paces the Fighting Camels offensive attack with a team-leading four home runs and 14 RBI. Three players have driven in 10 or more RBI on, including Stephanie Jones who leads the team with a .478 batting average among the players with at least 20 at-bats.

Four players have toed the rubber for Campbell this season. Courtney Roberts has pitched in a team-high 15.1 innings in her four appearances with two complete games and a shutout. The Fighting Camels overall have posted a team ERA of 4.11.

Next Up For Elon
Following Wednesday’s matchup against Campbell, Elon hosts the Phoenix Clash Tournament on Feb. 22-24. The Phoenix will kick off the tournament against Saint Peter’s on Friday, Feb. 22, at 4:30 p.m. Temple and Hampton make up the remaining field for the tournament.