Elon Women’s Softball Phoenix Treks to Florida for Hatter Invitational

ELON, N.C. – Fresh off an undefeated start to open its season, the Elon University softball team travels to Florida for its second early-season tournament this weekend, Feb. 14-15, at the Hatter Invitational, hosted by Stetson. The Phoenix (3-0-1) is scheduled to play four games in the tournament, beginning on Friday at 11 a.m. with a contest vs. Bethune-Cookman at Patricia Wilson Field.

Elon then faces Stetson at 4 p.m. on Friday and concludes the tournament the following day against Campbell at 11 a.m. and a rematch against Bethune-Cookman at 1:30 p.m.

Live Coverage
Fans can follow the Phoenix at the tournament via live stats by going to the Elon softball schedule page at elonphoenix.com. Twitter updates will also be provided the handle @ElonScores or @ElonUSoftball. Fans can also watch the games via subscription on HatterVision through Steston’s website.

Last Time Out
The Phoenix went undefeated in its opening weekend, Feb. 8-9, at the Charleston Southern Tournament. Elon opened 2014 with an 8-3 win over UNC Wilmington and then swept Maryland Eastern Shore in two games by a combined score of 20-0. The maroon and gold then battled host Charleston Southern to a 5-5 tie with the game being called due to darkness.

Scouting the Phoenix
Elon hit 11 home runs during its four games at Charleston Southern, hitting .350 overall and allowing only .236 to its opponents. Five players homered last weekend, with sophomore Emily Cameron leading the way with four. Carleigh Nester, Grace Eng and Emily Roper all had two while Caitlin O’Shea rounded out the totals for the Phoenix with her first career home run against UMES.

Cameron was rewarded as the Southern Conference’s Player of the Week with her performance. The utility player batted .545 (6-for-11) to go with 10 RBI and a slugging percentage of 1.636 against the opposition last weekend. She also posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage while splitting time in right field and first base and added a stolen base to her stat line. The Kennesaw, Ga., native has already surpassed her home run total of one that she had all of last season as a freshman.

The Phoenix also received some steady performances in the circle from its pitching staff. Alli Burdette, Eve Clausen and Chelsea White each picked up a win at the tournament last weekend, contributing to the 2.33 ERA as a staff so far this season. Burdette struck out six batters while earning a shutout complete-game win in her collegiate debut against UMES. Clausen also pitched at a high level, tossing 4.0 innings of hitless, shutout ball in the second game versus the Hawks.

Elon head coach Kathy Bocock picked up her 285th career victory in the second contest versus UMES and now has 48 wins at the helm of the Phoenix softball program.

Scouting Bethune-Cookman
This weekend’s contests will be the fourth and fifth meeting all-time for Elon vs. Bethune-Cookman (0-5). The Wildcats hold a 2-1 series lead all-time versus the Phoenix, including a 5-4 victory over Elon in last year’s meeting at the Florida Atlantic Tournament.

Bethune-Cookman competed at the USF-Wilson DeMarini Tournament in Tampa, Fla., to begin its 2014 campaign. The Wildcats fell short in each of its contests, with three coming against ranked teams.

Offensively, the Wildcats are hitting only .118 as a team, but Kelsey Rodney paces the squad with a .750 batting average.

Scouting Stetson
Stetson (2-0) is also undefeated on the young season after picking up a pair of wins against Michigan State and Rhode Island at its home tournament, the Stetson Lead-Off Classic.

Friday’s meeting will be the ninth all-time between the Phoenix and the Hatters. Stetson holds a slim 5-3 record all-time over Elon, including a 2-0 win in the most recent contest in 2011.

Demi Meza is the top offensive player for the Hatters, batting .600 in their two games with two home runs and three RBI. Stetson has yet to allow a run this season with hurlers Meredith Owen and Sarah Read each picking up a win last weekend.

Scouting Campbell
Campbell (2-2) split its games last weekend at its home tournament, the Hampton Inn Invitational. Sunday’s meeting with the Phoenix will be the 29th all-time in the series between the two schools as Campbell holds a 21-7 advantage all time over Elon.

Campbell is batting .272 as a team as Stephanie Jones owns the top average on the squad, hitting .538. Seven players total have driven in a run with Milly Martinet leading the way with five.

In the circle, sophomore Courtney Roberts has been the team’s workhorse during the young season, pitching 12.2 innings while owning a 1-1 record and a ERA of 2.76.

On Deck
Elon faces the Camels again on Wednesday, Feb. 19, in Buies Creek, N.C. That game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.