Elon to Host Phoenix Softball Clash

ELON, N.C. – The Elon softball team returns to its new stadium this weekend to host the Phoenix Softball Clash, Friday through Sunday, at Hunt Softball Park. The Phoenix (1-4) will kick off the tournament on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 10:00 a.m. against Temple (0-0).

Hampton (1-8) and Saint Peter’s (1-3) make up the remaining field for the four-team, eight-game tournament. The Phoenix will face the Peacocks following its matchup with the Owls at 12:15 then finish the day in a rematch with Saint Peter’s at 7 p.m.

Elon will conclude the tournament against the Lady Pirates on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 2:30 p.m. Non-Phoenix games will be played at 2:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Live Coverage
Fans can follow the action of the games via live stats by going to the Elon softball schedule page at elonphoenix.com. Twitter updates will also be provided at @ElonScores.

Series History
Elon has played Temple twice in softball with the Owls winning both contests in the series, the last meeting coming in 2002. The Phoenix and the Lady Pirates have only squared off once on the field, with Elon coming away with a 4-3 victory in 1998. Saint Peter’s and Elon have never played prior to this weekend.

Last Time Out
Elon fell short in its home opener on Wednesday, Feb. 20, against Campbell, 7-5. Tomeka Watson, Grace Eng and Johanna Spencer each homered for the Phoenix in the contest against the Camels while combining to hit 6-for-11 (.545). Karen Berna pitched 4.1 innings in relief, allowing only one earned run and two strikeouts.

Scouting Elon
Elon has posted a record of 1-4 in the early portion of the 2013 campaign. The Phoenix picked up its lone win of the season against then eighth-ranked Georgia at the Red and Black Showcase in Athens, Ga., on opening day, Feb. 8. The win against the Bulldogs was the program’s first against an opponent in the top-10.

Watson leads the team in virtually every offensive category, including batting average (.500), home runs (three), hits (eight), RBI (five) and slugging percentage (1.000). The Jackson, Ga., native hit her 23rd career home run on Wednesday and is now three shy from tying Brandi Jones’ (2006-09) all-time record of 26 at Elon.

After going homerless during her freshman campaign, Eng has hit two in five games in the early portion of her sophomore season. The Middletown, R.I. native is also second on the squad in RBI, slugging percentage and total bases.

Berna, Kayla Caruso and Chelsea White have seen the most time in the circle this season for the Phoenix. White earned the win over No. 8 Georgia and leads the squad with a 2.33 ERA.

Scouting Saint Peter’s
The Peacocks, coming off a 5-44 season, picked up its first win of 2013 on Feb. 10, against UMES, 12-7. Five players are hitting .333 or better including senior Shelby Beaver, who has a team-best .500 batting average. Sophomore Francesca D’Amato paces the offensive attack for Saint Peter’s with two home runs and seven RBI.

Erica Colon, who picked up the win against UMES after pitching a complete game, is one of four hurlers who have seen time in the circle for the Peacock’s this season.

Scouting Temple
Temple, coming off a 27-22 season a year ago, will make its 2013 debut on Friday. The Owls, who posted a 12-6 record in Atlantic-10 play in 2012, returns 12 letterwinners from that squad. Stephanie Pasquale is among the leading returners in batting average (.319) home runs (four) and RBI (30). Brooklin White also returns after picking up 14 wins for the Owls in the circle last season.

Scouting Hampton
The Lady Pirates went 25-33 a season ago and dropped a 15-4 outing against Bradley in their more recent contest on Feb. 17, at the University of New Mexico Lobo Classic. Hampton defeated host New Mexico on Feb. 16, 7-2, for its lone win of the 2013 campaign.

Sophomore Bobbi Langlois has team-highs in batting average (.538) and RBI (nine) for the Lady Pirates. She has also seen time in the circle along with Jailynn Jackson and Jecholla Pratt to help Hampton post a team ERA of 3.50.

Up Next For Elon
Elon will continue its home stand at Hunt Softball Park with games next Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 27-28, versus East Carolina and Virginia Tech, respectively. The Phoenix will host its dedication ceremony for Hunt Softball Park prior to the game against the Hokies on Thursday.