Elon Women’s Softball to Host Longwood in Early Week Matchup

ELON, N.C. – After earning a Southern Conference win last weekend, the Elon softball team will take a step outside league action to host Longwood in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 2. The first pitch of game one between the Phoenix (12-19) and the Lancers (23-10) is slated at 4 p.m. at Hunt Softball Park.

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.

Promotions
Tuesday’s game will be a ONE Phoenix event and Fan Appreciation Day. Elon students will have an opportunity to earn prizes and gifts by supporting the Phoenix athletic teams at their events.

Series History
Elon and Longwood have met 15 times heading into Tuesday’s matchup. The Phoenix holds a 10-5 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools that dates back to 1993 in the fast-pitch era. The Lancers won both games in last year’s match versus the maroon and gold in Farmville, Va.

Last Time Out
Elon was able to split its doubleheader last Saturday, March 30, versus UNCG, winning the first game, 8-5. Carleigh Nester went 2-for-3 in the game, batting and scoring a couple of runs for the Phoenix. Nester had four RBI total in the three-game series and hit 4-for-9 (.444).

Tomeka Watson became the program’s all-time career hits leader on Friday, collecting her 230th career hit for the Phoenix and breaking a tie with Dani Concepcion (2002-05). Watson hit a team-best .571 (4-for-7) versus the Spartans. She also stole three bases to increase her season total to 16-for-16.

Scouting the Phoenix
Watson and Nester pace the Elon offensive attack with season batting averages of .426 and .343, respectively. As a team, the Phoenix is batting .278, fourth-best in the conference, and still leads the SoCon with 25 total home runs.

Watson also needs three RBI to break Debbie Zeigler’s (2005-08) career record of 122 to become Elon’s all-time leader. She is also nine stolen bases shy of becoming only the second player in program history with over 100 in her career.

Freshman Emily Cameron continues to have a great first year offensively for the maroon and gold. Cameron hit .333 in the series versus UNCG and drove in two runs. She is one of four players currently hitting .300 or better for the Phoenix on the year.

Elon has posted a record of 9-7 so far at its new home at Hunt Softball Park and will look for its 10th win of the year on Tuesday at the facility.

Scouting Longwood
Longwood currently holds a 23-10 record on the year and is a member of the Big South Conference. The Lancers defeated Radford in their most recent contest at home, 8-4, and increased its win-streak to four.

Offensively, Longwood is batting .340 as a team and have 40 home runs on the year, led by Megan Baltzell’s 14. Kori Nishitomi is a team-high batting .486 for the Lancers followed by Baltzell’s .432 average.

In the circle, three pitchers have seen action for Longwood. Libby Morris (11-4, 3.44 ERA, 77.1) and Brooke Short (12-5, 2.62 ERA, 99.0) headline the pitching staff for the Lancers.

On Deck
Elon returns to SoCon play on the road this weekend, April 6-7, at Appalachian State. The Phoenix and the Mountaineers will face each other in a twin bill on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and conclude the three-game series in the finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Boone, N.C.