BOCA RATON, Fla. – Tomeka Watson hit her 12th home run of the season to tie the program’s single-season record, but the Elon softball team fell in a couple of games today, March 23, at the FAU Parents Weekend Tournament. The Phoenix had a 4-3 setback in the first game of the day versus Dartmouth and loss to Iowa State in its final contest of the afternoon, 12-1, to fall to 11-13 at the FAU Softball Stadium.
Dartmouth 4, Elon 3
Dartmouth plated the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. The Big Green’s Brianna Lohmann drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a Kristen Rumley single to right field. Alex St. Romain singled through the left side to score Lohmann and make the score 1-0.
After three scoreless innings, the Phoenix was able to place a runner into scoring position in the bottom of the fifth. Sarah Little earned a one-out walk and advanced to second on a Caitlin O’Shea bunt single to the pitcher. The two were stranded on the next two at bats however as Dartmouth induced to final two outs to end the inning.
The Phoenix would finally answer and get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. Watson led off with a solo home run into left center to tie the score at 1-1. Watson took a 0-1 pitch off Rumley to tie Emerald Graham (2010-11) for the program’s single-season record. The maroon and gold could not build on that momentum as the next three batters went down in order to move into the top of the seventh.
After Phoenix starter Chelsea White went 1-2-3 in the top half, the Phoenix had an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the seventh. Rumley prevented that from happening as she struck out the side to send the game into extra innings.
With the international tiebreaker rule in place, Dartmouth took advantage to retake the lead in the top of the eighth. Kara Curosh was placed at second to begin the inning and advanced to third after Hillary Hubert reached on a fielder’s choice. Curosh would cross home plate on a Morgan McCalmon one-out single up the middle to give the Big Green a 2-1 lead.
Elon responded by plating a run of its own in the bottom of the eighth. Camille Hill’s one-out single to center scored O’Shea from second to tie the game at 2-2. Watson was intentionally walked on the next at bat to give Elon two on with one out, but Dartmouth was able to record the next two outs to escape the inning.
Dartmouth would plate the go-ahead runs in the top of the ninth. Rumley singled to left field and advanced to second while Lohmann, who was placed on second to begin the inning, moved over to third. St. Romain walked to load the bases with no outs. Lohmann would score on a Katie Adams’ sacrifice fly to center field to give the Big Green a 3-2 advantage. Dartmouth plated another run to move ahead 4-2 after the top of the ninth.
Elon would rally to cut the deficit to one in the bottom half. After being placed on second to lead off the inning, Johanna Spencer advanced to third on a wild pitch then scored on another wild pitch to pull the Phoenix closer at 4-3 with one out and a runner at second. Rumley struck out the final two batters to end the Phoenix’s threat.
Rumley (9-3) earned the win after pitching all 9.0 innings and allowed three runs off seven hits and four strikeouts.
White (2-5) also went the distance for Elon as the sophomore pitcher allowed only one earned while holding the Big Green offense to six hits. She also fanned four batters on the afternoon.
Hill and Oldham led the Phoenix with two hits each and a RBI apiece. Watson also had a hit and moved three shy of tying the all-time career hits record at Elon.
Iowa State 12, Elon 1
Elon got itself into some early trouble in the bottom half of the first versus Iowa State. The Cyclones Brittany Gomez led off with a single up the middle and then stole second to move into scoring position. After Maddie Reese reached on an error by the third baseman, Erica Miller drove them home with a three-run home run to left field to give the Cyclones an 3-0 lead after one.
Iowa State plated three more runs in the bottom of the second. ISU’s Sara Rice reached on an error to lead off the inning. Amber Ewert pinch ran for Rice and stole second to move into scoring position followed by Gomez reaching on a walk. After Reese singled on the next at bat to load the bases, Miller singled up the middle to drive in Ewert and Gomez. Iowa State added another run to the scoreboard to push its lead to 6-0 after two.
Elon starter Kayla Caruso was relieved in the circle by Eve Clausen to begin the bottom of the third, but Iowa State continued to pull away from the Phoenix and added six more runs in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 12-0 going into the fourth.
Karen Berna, who induced the final out of the third inning in relief of Clausen, was able to pitch a scoreless fourth to give Elon a chance to get on the board in the top half of the fifth. Spencer reached on an error and advanced to second leading off the fifth, but was thrown out advancing to third on Little’s fielder’s choice. Little moved into scoring position at second on the next at bat and advanced to third on a passed ball.
Little would score after Emilie Rowand reached an error by the second baseman to give Elon its first run of the game and make the score 12-1. Rowand advanced to second on a wild pitch, but was stranded as Iowa State recorded the final out to end the game.
Caruso (5-6) took the loss after going 2.0 innings and allowed six runs, four earned, on four hits. ISU’s Tori Terrescano (7-7) pitched a no-hitter, going all five innings and allowed one run and a walk. The last time Elon was held without a hit came on March 6, 2009 at then-15th ranked North Carolina.
The Phoenix return to action tomorrow to take on host FAU at 11:15 a.m. tomorrow followed by its tournament finale against Bethune-Cookman scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Game 1 vs Dartmouth
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Dartmouth 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 4 6 0
Elon 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 3 7 2
Win – Rumley (9-3). Loss – White (2-5). Save – None.
Start: 9:00 am Time: 2:30 Attendance: 100
Weather: 72 Degrees, Sunny
Game 2 vs Iowa State
1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Elon 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4
Iowa State 3 3 6 0 X 12 9 2
Win – Torrescano (7-7). Loss – Caruso (5-6). Save – None.
Start: 1:40 pm Time: 1:27 Attendance: 150
Weather: Sunny