BOONE, N.C. – The Elon softball team fell in a couple of games on Saturday, April 6, at Appalachian State, 7-3, in game one and 8-5 in the following game. The Phoenix fell to 12-23 overall on the year and 2-9 during Southern Conference play despite two home runs on the day from junior Carleigh Nester.
Game One
Appalachian State 7, Elon 3
After a both teams went scoreless in the opening one and a half innings, ASU was the first to get a run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second. Ellie Manriquez led off with a single to left field and was replaced by pinch runner, Kristen Terry. Terry advanced to second on a stolen base and Caroline Rodgers drew a walk to give the Mountaineers two on with one out. Pepper Butler drove them home with a three-run home run to left to give ASU an early 3-0 advantage.
Nester responded with a one-out solo home run down the left field line to cut Elon’s deficit to two at 3-1 in the top of the third. Nester was able to a take the first pitch she saw for her third home run of the season. Watson hit a two-out bloop single to left and reached scoring position on a stolen base, but she would be stranded as ASU recorded the final out of the inning.
ASU would hit another home run in the bottom half to increase its lead. Allie Cashion reached after earning a free pass to lead off the inning. Ashley Seering followed with a one-out drive over the right center wall to push the Mountaineers’ advantage to four, 5-1.
The Mountaineers plated another run in the bottom of the fourth to move ahead, 6-1.
Elon attempted to rally in the top of the fifth. Nester reached on an error by the second baseman then moved to second on a passed ball. Emily Cameron hit a single to left center to advance Nester to third then stole second to move into scoring position. After Watson was walked to load the bases, Sarah Little singled through the left side to drive Nester across the plate for the Phoenix’s second run of the game. Grace Eng hit a two-out single through the left side to bring Cameron home, but Watson was tagged out at home to end the inning with the score 6-3.
Appalachian State scored another run in the bottom of the fifth that set the final score, 7-3.
ASU’s Allissa Schoelkopf (10-6) earned the complete game win after allowing only three runs, one earned, off six hits. Chelsea White (2-11) took the loss for Elon after going 2.2 innings with five runs allowed off three hits.
All six of Elon’s hits were recorded by six different players. Nester, Little and Eng also had an RBI for the Phoenix.
Game Two
Appalachian State 8, Elon 5
Appalachian State jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a two-run double to right center off the bat of Butler in the bottom of the second. Another run would cross the plate for the Mountaineers in the inning to give ASU a 3-0 lead after two.
Elon responded by plating five runs in the third inning. Ali Ford, playing in her first series of the year for softball, singled to lead off the inning then advanced second on a Lauren Oldham bunt single. Both were driven home after Nester crushed a three-run home run to center field to tie the game at 3-3. Watson and Little had one-out back-to-back singles to center field with Little advancing to second on the throw. Aly Quintana followed with a two-run single to left center to score Watson and Little and gave Elon the lead, 5-3.
ASU was able to get back in front with four runs in the bottom half. Seering singled through the left side and moved to second on a wild pitch. Manriquez reached on a free pass and Seering would score after Rodgers doubled to right center to bring the Mountaineers within one. Butler homered for the second time on the afternoon with a three-run shot to left center as Appalachian State retook the lead, 7-5.
Both teams would go scoreless over the next two and a half innings until the bottom of the sixth. ASU plated a run the bottom half of the inning after Cashion scored on a wild pitch. Cashion had reached earlier on a single through the right side and advanced to second after Meghan Smith was walked. A fielder’s choice moved her to third before ASU plated the insurance run to move ahead 8-5.
The Phoenix would go down in order in the top of the seventh, as Elon was unable to avenge its early lead of the game.
Schoelkopf (11-6) earned the win in relief of starter Shivaun Landeros after going 4.2 innings and allowing no runs on one hit. Kayla Caruso (6-9) took the loss for the Phoenix after pitching 4.0 innings of work and gave up seven runs on nine hits.
Watson, Quintana and Oldham led the Phoenix with two hits each. Nester had three RBI to pace Elon with Quintana driving in two.
Both teams return tomorrow at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium for the series finale with the first pitch scheduled at 1 p.m.
Game 1
Score by Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Elon 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 3 6 1 Appalachian State 0 3 2 1 1 0 X 7 6 2
Win – Schoelkopf (10-6). Loss – White (2-11). Save – None.
Umpires – HP: Robert Lett 1B: Jeff Blanken 3B: Robert Burrell
Start: 1 p.m. Time: 1:52 Attendance: 272
Game 2
Score by Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Elon 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 5 9 1 Appalachian State 0 3 4 0 0 1 X 8 11 0
Win – Schoelkopf (11-6). Loss – Caruso (6-9). Save – None.
Umpires – HP: Jeff Blanken 1B: Robert Burrell 3B: Robert Lett
Start: 3:03 p.m Time: 2:14 Attendance: 272