Eng’s Homer Leads to Elon Softball Split at Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – A solo home run by Grace Eng in the eighth inning of game two helped the Elon University softball team 5-4 win and a doubleheader split at Chattanooga on Saturday, April 5, at Frost Stadium. The Phoenix (19-17-1, 3-8 Southern Conference) bounced back from a 3-0 game one loss versus the Mocs (22-15, 7-3 SoCon).

The two teams will return for the rubber match tomorrow in the series finale with the first pitch scheduled at 2 p.m.

Chattanooga 3, Elon 0
Chattanooga scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third due to some Elon miscues. The Phoenix recorded the first two outs of the frame, but the Mocs’ Sam Taylor reached on an error. She then advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a single to right field by Sarah Beth Roberts that gave Chattanooga an early 1-0 lead.

Elon attempted to respond in the top of the fourth. The Phoenix had two runners reach base in the inning with Ali Ford leading off with a bloop single to left. Ford advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alaina Hall, but Hall reached due to an error on the third baseman with no outs. The Mocs struck out the next batter before inducing the final out on a double play to escape the inning.

Chattanooga added another run in the bottom of the fourth. Anyssa Robles led off the inning with a double to left field before being replaced on the base paths by a pinch runner. She advanced to third despite a great diving catch by left fielder Emily Cameron in foul territory. Robles would eventually score on a grounder by Jesslyn Stockard to second base and put the Mocs up 2-0.

The Mocs added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Nicole Osterman lined a one-out double down the left field line and was driven in on a single by Cricket Blanco. Elon managed to record the final two outs to move to the top of the seventh down 3-0.

Elon was unable to answer in the top of the seventh and fell to the Mocs in game one, 3-0.

Elon starter Caitlin O’Shea (5-9) pitched a complete game in the loss, allowing only two earned runs on four hits while walking two. Cameron led the way at the plate after going 2-of-3 with Ford and Hall registering the only hits for the Phoenix.

Elon 5, Chattannoga 4 (8)
The Mocs plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the third. Chattanooga scored on an Anyssa Taylor single to center field to go ahead 1-0. The Mocs added another run in the inning to take a 2-0 advantage after the third.

Elon answered in the top of the fourth to tie the game. Hall reached on an error by the second baseman and advanced to second on a single by Carleigh Nester. The pair would score on an Aly Quintana two-out double to center field, knotting the game at 2-2.

Elon took the lead in the top of the fifth. Grace Eng doubled to begin the inning and advanced to third with two outs on a grounder to the pitcher by Lauren Oldham. Eng would cross home plate to give Elon the lead on a single up the middle by Ford. Ford would give Elon a two-run lead after mishap by the Chattanooga pitcher put Elon up 4-2 after the top of the fifth.

Chattanooga battled back to score a run in the bottom half of the frame. Anyssa Taylor placed a one-out triple to left center and scored on a sacrifice fly by to trim Elon’s lead to one, 4-3. Elon recorded the final out to end the inning and move the game to the sixth.

Elon threatened again in the top of the sixth loading the bags. Quintana and Cameron both reached on a couple errors by the Mocs’ third baseman to lead off the inning. The pair moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Eng and was joined on the base paths by Johanna Spencer after she was walked. Elon could not drive them in on the next two at bats moving the game to the bottom half of the frame.

Chattanooga tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. Roberts singled up the middle to start the inning then plated the tying run on an error by the Phoenix. Elon would recover to escape the inning as the game moved into extras tied at 4-4.

Elon retook the lead in the top of the eighth frame as Eng connected on her seventh homer of the year on a two-out solo shot to left field. The blast gave the Phoenix a 5-4 lead after the top of the eighth.

Chattanooga had a runner reach in the bottom of the frame and advance to second with one out on a squeeze play. Ford however caught a line drive and converted a double play to end the game.

Chelsea White (8-6) earned the win for the Phoenix after she entered the game in the seventh. Starter Alli Burdette threw 5.0 innings and allowed three runs on her seven hits to go with three strikeouts. O’Shea threw a scoreless sixth in relief.

Eng went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and a RBI. Quintana also had two RBI for the Phoenix.

Game 1

                1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
   Elon         0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
   Chattanooga  0 0 1 1 0 1 X 3 4 1

Win – Henderson (12-6).
Loss – O’Shea (5-9).
Save – None.

Umpires – HP: Nelson Rosa 1B: Larry McCaden 3B: Jeffery Blanken
Start: 1:00 pm Time: 1:30 Attendance: 350
Weather: Sunny

Game 2

                1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
   Elon         0 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 5 5 2
   Chattanooga  0 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 4 9 5

Win – White (8-6).
Loss – Henderson (12-7).
Save – None.

Umpires – HP: Larry McCaden 1B: Jeffery Blanken 3B: Nelson Rosa
Start: 3:00 pm Time: 2:45 Attendance: 350
Weather: Sunny
Deason faced 2 batters in the 6th.