College Women’s Tennis Final – Guilford 5, Averett 4
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Guilford College’s women’s tennis team pulled off its third 5-4 victory of the season Friday with a 5-4 home win over Averett University.
The Quakers (3-2) grabbed a slim 2-1 lead after doubles play by winning the second and third-doubles contests by matching 8-6 counts. Guilford’s Luci Gordon and Chandler McDonald collected the third-doubles point. Fernanda Gonzalez and Hailey Fishman teamed for an 8-6 second-doubles victory over Oliva Scott and Jesse Gomes.
The wins set the tone for good days by the Quakers’ Gonzalez and Fishman. Gonzalez downed Scott at fourth singles, 6-2, 6-2. Fishman rallied for a big 4-6, 6-1, 10-5 triumph over Kaitlyn Meadows, 4-6,, 6-1, 10-5. Riley Caruana won the third singles match over Averett’s Jessie Gomes, 6-3, 6-1.
Averett’s Heidi Sarkkinen won twice with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Katie Claggett at first singles and an 8-3 triumph with Hannah Mattson over Guilford’s Claggett and Caruana.
Coach Dave McCain’s Quakers visit Shenandoah University Saturday (3/12) and Bridgewater College Sunday (3/13) in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play.
College Men’s Tennis Final – Averett 6, Guilford 3
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Visiting Averett University pulled out a narrow 6-3 men’s tennis win at Guilford College. The Cougars improved to 5-1, while the Quakers drop to 0-6.
Four of Averett’s wins were very close, including both doubles points. Oliver Lindqvist and James Wright edged Guilford’s Erik Meiler and Aaron Smedley, 9-7. The Cougars’ Nicholas Quevedo and Abdugani Ganiev took the second doubles’ match, 8-4. Guilford’s Levi Bruff and Mesa Martorell won the third-doubles match over Alfonso Jimenez and Carlos Lora, 8-2.
Lindqvist slid past Meiler at first singles, 7-5, 6-4, and Quevedo needed a marathon third set to top Martorell at second singles, 4-6, 6-2, 13-11.
Guilford’s Smedley used a pro-set tiebreak to knock off Lora at fourth singles, 6-2, 1-6, 10-7. Pearson won at sixth singles, which accounted for Guilford’s third point.
Coach Dave McCain’s Quakers visit Shenandoah University Saturday (3/12) and Bridgewater College Sunday (3/13) in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play.
HPU falls to Radford in the quarterfinals, 72-57
• Junior Kaylah Keys paced the Panthers with 15 points including 11 in the first half.
• Sophomore Kat Harris chipped in with 10 points and three assists on the night.
• Freshman Emma Bockrath racked up nine points and six rebounds in the contest.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – In a tale of two halves, the High Point University women’s basketball team built a 15-point first-half lead but couldn’t hold on as Radford stormed back for a 72-57 win.
The Panthers (12-19, 10-10) owned the first 18 minutes of the contest earning a 35-20 lead with 1:45 left in the first half. However, the Highlanders (18-13, 13-7) answered with a 39-5 run to gain control and pull away for the victory.
“I thought we started the game well, but everybody knows 20 minutes isn’t enough,” head coach DeUnna Hendrix said. “Radford came out for the second half with a different mentality and showed they’re a really good team. Credit to them, but we just didn’t play a full 40 minutes.”
Junior Kaylah Keys came out hot hitting three first-half three-pointers to rack up 11 points before the break en route to a 15-point outing. Likewise, sophomore Kat Harris recorded 10 points on the night with all of them coming prior to the break.
The Panthers earned a +1 edge in rebounding in the first half but the Highlanders posted a 44-32 margin on the glass. Radford’s defense stymied the HPU offense with 11 blocks while allowing the Purple & White to shoot just 10-37 (27 percent) after the break.
On the wing, freshman Emma Bockrath added nine points and six rebounds in the setback. Off the bench, freshman Shea Morgan put up five points and six boards while redshirt-freshman Kennedy Currie tallied six points.
Hatfield drilled a three-pointer on the opening possession before Keys knocked down a pair of triples to give HPU a 9-3 edge at the 8:17 mark. The Panthers kept the pressure on hitting 7-15 from the floor and all five free throws to build a 22-11 lead after one quarter.
The good times continued to roll early in the second quarter as Harris banked in a three to give HPU a 25-13 advantage (7:53). From there, the lead swelled to 35-20 with 1:45 to play on Keys’ third tree-pointer of the night.
However, the Highlanders scored the final seven points of the half to make it 35-27 at the break. Keys paced the Purple & White in the half scoring 11 points on 3-4 shooting from beyond the arc.
But Radford stormed out of halftime marking their first nine shots to extend their run to 35-4 and take a 55-39 lead (0:45). In the frame the Highlanders outscored the Panthers 28-5 by shooting 80 percent (12-15) while holding High Point to 14 percent (2-14).
The run continued in the fourth quarter as Radford scored the first four points to take a 59-40 lead (9:22). From there, the Purple & White fought back to within 13 points but couldn’t get any closer as the Highlanders cruised to a 72-57 victory.
High Point wraps up the season with a 12-19 record overall, but loses just one senior in Aariel Allen.
High Point falls at Davidson in Friday night contest
• Junior Samantha Brown led the Panthers with four goals
• Senior Kristina Renner grabbed a team-high four draw controls and three ground balls
• HPU returns to action Sunday with a noon game vs. Michigan inside Vert Stadium
DAVIDSON, N.C. – The High Point University women’s lacrosse team (3-3) dropped a 12-7 contest to Davidson College (3-2) on Friday night inside Richardson Stadium.
HPU trailed by one (6-5) with 19:28 to play, but Davidson took control of the game with a 4-0 run over the next 10 minutes to extend its edge to five (10-5). HPU could not move closer than three (10-7) for the remainder of the game.
“I’m disappointed with our execution tonight,” head coach Lyndsey Boswell said. “We came out flat and you can’t do that against a good team like Davidson that’s well coached. They stuck to their game plan and we let them dictate the tempo of the game. That is not the way we play lacrosse and I’m positive that this result will push us to dig deep and improve. We have a quick turnaround but I believe in our team and our leaders. We will be ready Sunday.”
High Point held advantages in draw controls (12-8) and ground balls (16-13), but HPU committed 15 turnovers and struggled from the free position, making 1-of-7 attempts (.143) on the night.
Junior Samantha Brown led the Panthers with a team-high four goals, marking her sixth-straight game with at least three points.
Freshman Samantha Herman added a pair of goals and picked up two ground balls, while senior Kristina Renner led the Panthers in draw controls (4) and ground balls (3).
Freshman goalkeeper Molly Andrews played a full 60 minutes in the cage and finished with five saves.
The Panthers struggled out of the gate offensively, with four turnovers on their first five possessions. The miscues allowed Davidson to jump out to a 3-0 lead at the 17:49 mark of the first half.
The Purple & White got on the board at the 8:59 mark, when Brown made a nice dodge to the cage to cut the deficit to 3-1.
After a Davidson goal at the 7:25 mark, HPU closed the half with a spirited effort. Brown put one in off the free position to make it 4-2 with 6:29 to play in the period. Then, with just 19 seconds left, Allie Foard found Samantha Herman for a crunch time goal that pulled the Panthers within one (4-3) at the break.
Davidson extended its edge back to two (5-3) just three minutes into the second half, but Leah Pace got on the board for the Panthers at the 23:16 mark to pull HPU back within one (5-4). Davidson went back up two at 6-4, but again HPU answered, as Brown got her hat trick at the 19:28 mark (6-5).
But from there, Davidson took control, using a 4-0 run over the next nine minutes to build a 10-5 edge with 10:28 to go. The Panthers rallied with a pair of scores by Herman and Brown to cut the lead to three (10-7) with 6:19 to play, but Davidson won a pair of key draw controls to post a pair of goals in the next two minutes.
The Wildcats led 12-7 with 4:19 left and closed it out from there.
The Panthers return to action Sunday with a noon tilt against Big Ten foe Michigan inside Vert Stadium.
College Track and Field Results – Guilford Opens Spring at Seahawk Invitational
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Guilford College’s Alex Martin (Pfafftown, N.C./Reagan) placed .01 meter away from the top-five marks in the long jump as Guilford College opened their 2016 track and field season in Friday afternoon’s day-one action of the Seahawk Invitiation, hosted by UNC-Wilmington. The meet featured schools from all NCAA Divisions, including members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
Martin placed sixth in the long jump with a mark of 6.70 meters, just .01 meters outside the top five. .12 meters separated fourth place from eighth place as Martin’s mark placed fourth all-time in school history.
Nick Reynolds led Guilford’s runners with a 19th-place finish in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 17:06.48
Laura Adair led the Quakers’ women in field events, placing tenth in the javelin throw with a mark of 19.24 meters. Ava Nadel finished the 5,000 meter run with a time of 23:04.11.
The Quakers continue tomorrow in day two of the Seahawk Invitational as the rest of the squad joins the action.
HPU baseball opens weekend with 6-4 win over Rider
• High Point picked up its third-straight win with a 6-4 victory over Rider on Friday.
• The Panthers scored five runs with two outs in the seventh to take control of the contest.
• Sophomore Austen Zente
HIGH POINT, N.C. – A five-run seventh inning lifted the High Point University baseball team to a 6-4 win over Rider on Friday at Williard Stadium. The win is the Panthers’ ninth in the past 10 games.
“This was a real tough game tonight,” head coach Craig Cozart
Senior Tyler Britton
Nick Margevicius took the loss for Rider, dropping to 0-3 in 2016. The left-hander gave up four earned runs on eight hits and two walks in 6-2/3 innings of work and struck out six HPU batters.
The win was the third in a row for High Point and it improves the Panthers record to 10-4 on the season. Rider falls to 0-9 with the loss.
High Point took a quick 1-0 lead on an RBI single by sophomore Carson Jackson
Trailing by one in the seventh, the Panthers pulled even on a two-out RBI single by junior Josh Greene
Rider tacked on two unearned runs in the ninth and had the go-ahead run at the plate in the form of Jake Bender, but Britton closed the door as he got Bender to pop up for the final out.
Zente finished 3-4 at the plate with two doubles and three RBI. He has recorded hit in each of his past six games and is now hitting .385 for the season. Junior Chris Clare
High Point and Rider will play two to finish the three-game series on Saturday, March 12, at Williard Stadium. The first game will start at 2 p.m., with the second following 45 minutes after the first’s conclusion. Saturday will also be the first of four “Home Runs with our Heroes” games for HPU. Active military personnel will attend the game and have the opportunity to hit batting practice with the team prior to the game. They will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the contest.
Elon’s Barker Tosses Perfect Game in Softball’s 8-0 Win
ELON, N.C. – Rookie Abby Barker tossed the first known perfect game for the Elon University softball team at the Division I level as the Phoenix defeated Niagara 8-0 in six innings to open the Elon Softball Tournament on Friday, March 11, at Hunt Softball Park.
Barker (3-4) helped the maroon and gold (9-11) snap a four-game losing skid after the Granville, Ohio, native threw 6.0 perfect innings while striking out three batters against the Purple Eagles (2-8). She needed only 74 pitches over the course of the game to become the program’s first known perfect game performer at the D-I level and the first to give up no hits in a game since 2011.
The Phoenix overall pumped out 10 hits on the day against Niagara, its ninth double-digit hitting performance of the season and third in a row. Emily Roper was 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored while Callie Horn was also 2-for-2. Kara Shutt added two more RBI while going 1-for-2 at the plate with a double, her tenth of the season.
The Rundown: Elon opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as Hannah Olson drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a grounder. Another walk gave the Phoenix runners at first and second before Roper’s RBI single to center field plated the first run of the game for the maroon and gold. A Niagara wild pitch led to another runner crossing home plate and the Phoenix taking a 2-0 lead after the first.
Another miscue by the Purple Eagles aided the Phoenix adding four more runs in the bottom of the second. Jenna Reilly drew another leadoff walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Olson followed with another free pass and the pair advanced on a single by Alaina Hall to center. The defender however misplayed the ball in the field and Reilly advanced from third to make the score 3-0. A bases clearing two RBI double from Shutt increased Elon’s lead to 5-0 before Shutt herself plated the fourth run of the frame on another RBI single from Roper to make it 6-0.
The Phoenix again took advantage of two errors by Niagara to add another run in the bottom of the fourth. A fielding error on the catcher led to Roper, who was walked earlier in the inning, to score from third to make the score 7-0.
The Phoenix added its final run in the bottom of the sixth as senior Emily Cameron beat out a two-out infield single to plate Roper for her second run of the game. The run sealed the Phoenix’s 8-0 run-rule victory and Barker’s perfect game.
Inside the Box Score: Olson drew three walks in the contest, a Phoenix single-game high this season…Reilly had a triple in the third inning, the sixth Phoenix player to record a three-bagger this season…Carey Million also had a double in the contest her sixth of the year…Elon left eight runners on base.
Notes of Interest: The last time a Phoenix pitcher had a no hitter was April 7, 2011 when Erin O’Shea and Lauren Taylor both blanked North Carolina Central in a doubleheader with O’Shea earning the 8-0 game one victory and Taylor winning 20-0 in game two…Shutt now has 24 career doubles at Elon and is only four away from tying her single-season total from all of last season…Cameron had her first hit and RBI of the season in the sixth inning.
On Deck
Elon is back on the diamond tomorrow, March 12, for day two of the Elon Softball Tournament. The Phoenix begins play at 12:15 p.m. with a contest against Oakland before a rematch against the Purple Eagles at 2:30 p.m.
Big Seventh Inning Sends The Citadel Past Elon
ELON, N.C. – A seven-run seventh inning by The Citadel broke a 5-5 tie and lifted the Bulldogs to a 13-8 victory over the Elon University baseball team on Friday, March 11.
Elon (6-8) saw CJ Young and Tyler McVicar each post two-hit games, while Danny Lynch and Nick Zammarelli both drove in a pair of runs for the Phoenix.
Stephen Windham homered and drove in four to lead The Citadel’s (7-6) offense.
Nick Beaulac (0-3) was saddled with the loss as he was charged with six runs (five earned) on five hits in 6.0 innings of work.
The win went to Bulldog reliever Ryan Stamler (1-1) who threw a scoreless sixth inning.
How It Happened: With the game knotted at five after six innings, The Citadel got a leadoff walk before a single and Elon error loaded the bases in the top of the seventh. Phoenix pitchers then walked three consecutive batters to give the Bulldogs an 8-5 lead. A single and sacrifice fly scored another pair before Clay Martin’s two-run home run made it a 12-5 contest.
Elon would get one in the seventh before scoring twice in the ninth, while The Citadel tacked on one more in the eighth to wrap up the scoring.
The Phoenix took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Zammarelli doubled and scored on a Kyle Jacksondouble before McVicar singled home Jackson.
After The Citadel went up 3-2 in the top of the third, Elon answered right back with two in the bottom half when Lynch doubled home a pair.
Elon would score one in the fourth to make it a 5-3 game only to see the Bulldogs even it with two runs in the top of the fifth.
Notes: Jackson finished 1-for-3 to run his hitting streak to 10 games… Elon stranded a season-high 14 runners and was just 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position… Phoenix pitchers matched a season high with nine walks issued.
On Deck: Elon and The Citadel will play game two of the series on Saturday, March 12. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Phoenix Looks to Extend Winning Streak at Davidson
ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s tennis team rides a three-match winning streak into its matchup against the Davidson Wildcats on Saturday, March 12, at the Davidson Tennis Courts. First serve is set for 2 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The Phoenix (5-8) finished a perfect 3-0 week with a 4-3 win against CAA foe UNCW on Thursday and sweeping a Kid’s Day Doubleheader on Saturday against North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central.
BRASCHI ON A ROLL
Erica Braschi leads the team with seven singles wins and has a 5-2 overall record in doubles play. The sophomore has played primarily at No. 2 singles, but saw action at No. 1 singles in Saturday’s win against N.C. Central. Braschi has also won three straight doubles matches alongside partner Taylor Casey and four straight doubles matches overall.
SCOUTING DAVIDSON
Davidson is 9-2 on the season. The Wildcats have won seven straight matches and have won nine of its last 10 matches. Davidson defeated Campbell 5-2 this afternoon at the Davidson Tennis Courts.
SERIES HISTORY
Davidson is leading the all-time series 6-8 against the Phoenix since Elon joined Division I. The Phoenix has owned the series of late winning the last six meetings. Elon defeated the Wildcats 6-1 at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center on April 7, 2015 last season.
UP NEXT
Following its match against Davidson, the Phoenix returns to the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center on Friday, March 18, to host Charlotte for a 2 p.m. match.
HEAD COACH ELIZABETH ANDERSON
Elizabeth Anderson is in her 12th season as head coach of the Phoenix. Anderson has led Elon to four straight seasons of 15 or more wins and guided the program to its first NCAA Tournament in 2014.
2016 CAA TOURNAMENT
Elon was selected to host the 2016 Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships, which will be held April 21-24 at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center and the Burlington Tennis Center. It will mark the first-ever CAA Tournament hosted by the Phoenix and first conference tournament hosted by the program since the 2013 SoCon Tournament.
Elon Cruises to a 6-1 Victory at Winthrop
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Salvador Mijares clinched the match and Mario Paccini’s singles win on court one wrapped up the Elon University men’s tennis team’s 6-1 victory against the Winthrop Eagles on Friday, March 11, at the Memorial Courts.
“I was very happy with our team’s effort today, especially in doubles play,” said head coach Michael Leonard. “Winning the doubles point was key to today’s win. I am pleased to see how much our doubles has improved this season.”
Mijares clinched the victory for Elon with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 4 singles. Paccini earned a hard-fought 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), 10-8 win against Winthrop’s Diego Quiroz, who had only lost two singles matches heading into Friday’s contest.
The Phoenix improves to 8-4 overall with the win and has won six of its last seven matches. Winthrop falls to 6-7 overall with the loss.
HIGHLIGHTS
Doubles duo of Petar Tomic and Chris Humphreys got things rolling, winning their fifth straight doubles match with a 6-4 win at No. 1. The match clinched the doubles point and put the Phoenix in front 1-0 in the contest. Neal Port and Mijares earned a 6-2 win on court three before Tomic and Humphreys clinched the point with their doubles victory.
Reigning CAA Player of the Week Robert Lindgren earned Elon’s first point in singles, earning a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Steven Patrick on court three. Felipe Sarrasague extended the maroon and gold’s lead to 3-0 with a 7-5, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles against Michael Chen.
Mijares clinched the match for the Phoenix with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles against Ruy Teixeira. Mijaries earned his seventh singles win of the season, tying Lindgren for the team lead.
After the Eagles earned its lone point in the match at No. 5 singles, Charlie Sullivan won his singles match 6-3, 7-5 on court six to extend Elon’s lead to 5-1. Paccini earned a hard-fought 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (10-8) against Winthrop’s Diego Quiroz to wrap up a 6-1 victory for the Phoenix.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix begins a busy week, next week, with two home matches at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. Elon hosts Navy for a 2:30 p.m. match on Monday, March 14, followed by Davidson on Tuesday, March 15, at 3 p.m. The maroon and gold will then hits the road to face James Madison for a 2 p.m. match on Friday, March 18, its first CAA foe of the season.