GREENVILLE, N.C – The Elon University softball team fell in its doubleheader today, April 18, to East Carolina by scores of 4-2 in game one and a 6-0 setback in the second game at ECU Softball Field.
Both teams will return tomorrow, April 19, for the series finale scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
East Carolina 4, Elon 1
Elon had a pair of runners reach in the top of the first. Carleigh Nester recorded her 50th career double for the first hit of the game and advanced to third on the next at bat. The hit also moved Nester into sole possession of third place all-time in school history with 213 in her career. Emily Roper joined her on the bases after drawing a two-out walk, but the two would be stranded after a grounder to the third baseman ended the frame.
ECU plated the first run of the game in the bottom half. Shelby Johnson placed a one-out single to right field then stole second to move to scoring position. After advancing to third, Johnson scored on an Abby Wynne single to third to go up 1-0. Elon would recover to record the final out of the inning.
Elon responded in the top of the third inning with its first run on the scoreboard. Carey Million led off with her fourth homer of the year on a solo shot to center to tie the game at 1-1. The Phoenix however went down in order to close out the remainder of the inning.
The Pirates jumped back in front in the bottom of the third. Alex Fieldhouse singled to second base, scoring Kristi Oshiro who had reached earlier on a walk. The run put the Pirates up 2-1 after the end of the third.
A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth scored another run for ECU to put the Pirates up 3-1. Wynne drove in Johnson, who singled to lead off the inning, putting the Phoenix in a two-run hole. East Carolina had another run cross home plate in the frame on a single through the right side, making the score 4-1 after five.
Elon attempted to stay alive in the top of the seventh. Ali Ford hit her second home run of the season with a one-out delivery to left center to pull the Phoenix within two, 4-2. After Johanna Spencer reached on single up the middle, the Phoenix had the tying run at the plate, but ECU converted the double play on a foul out to first to end the game.
Caitlin O’Shea (6-13) took the loss for the Phoenix in the opening game after going 5.0 innings and allowing four runs on nine hits. Alli Burdette pitched a scoreless inning in relief in the sixth frame. Elon had five hits total in the first game and left three runners on base.
East Carolina 6, Elon 0
Elon threatened in the top half of the first inning of game two loading the bases. Nester was walked and Emily Cameron joined her on the bases with a one-out single up the middle. The pair moved into scoring position before loading the bags after Aly Quintana was walked. The Phoenix could not drive them in as the game moved to the bottom of the frame.
The Pirates wasted no time to put runs on the board in the bottom of the frame as Oshiro blasted a three-run home run to put ECU up 3-0. Oshiro drove in Chelsea Kaluhiokalani-Glackin and Johnson, who both singled to lead off the inning.
Neither team scored in the next two and a half innings before ECU added its fourth run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Jill Jelnick scored on a Jasmine Robbins two-out single to the shortstop to put the Pirates up 4-0.
A two-run bottom of the fifth put the Pirates up 6-0. Johnson scored on an Oshiro double to center field. Oshiro would later cross home plate on a triple by Jordan Lewis to center, giving the Phoenix a six-run deficit after the fifth.
The game would end in that score as the Phoenix fell to ECU, 6-0. Elon starter Chelsea White (9-7) received the loss for the Phoenix in game two after pitching 4.0 innings and giving up six runs on seven hits. Cameron had Elon’s only two hits in the contest against the Pirates in game two.
Game 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Elon 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 5 0
East Carolina 1 0 1 0 2 0 X 4 9 0
Win – Christian (16-7). Loss – O’Shea (6-13). Save – None.
Umpires – HP: Michael Fredette 1B: William Torain 3B: Maggie Christiensen
Start: 5:05 pm Time: 1:52 Attendance: 316
Weather: Overcast, 50 degrees
Game 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Elon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
East Carolina 3 0 0 1 2 0 X 6 9 0
Win – Umphlett (6-5). Loss – White (9-7). Save – None.
Umpires –
Start: 7:28 pm Time: 2:04 Attendance: 316
Weather: Overcast, 50 degrees