Phoenix Softball Prepares for First Road Trip of Season

ELON, N.C. – The Elon softball team will make its first road trip of the 2012 season to Columbia, S.C., for the Gamecock Invitational on Friday, Feb. 24 – Saturday, Feb. 26. The Phoenix will face host South Carolina, George Washington and Presbyterian. Elon and USC will close the first day of the tournament at 5 p.m. on Friday at Beckham Field.

The Phoenix
Elon enters the Gamecock Invitational with a 5-2 record. The maroon and gold went 1-2 in the Phoenix Softball Clash after the final two games were cancelled due to inclement weather. The Phoenix defeated Presbyterian, 2-0, before falling to Bucknell, 2-0, and James Madison, 7-4. The team is averaging .345 at the plate, while the pitching squad has compiled a 1.87 ERA. Junior Tomeka Watson leads the team with 10 hits in 21 at bats and sophomore Carleigh Nester has knocked in the most runs with 8 RBI.

The Opponents
George Washington (0-4)
The Colonials opened the season in the Kickin’ Chicken Classic at Coastal Carolina, going 0-4 against Georgia Southern, George Mason, Marshall and Coastal. Junior Autumn Taylor leads GWU at the plate with a .500 batting average after 12 at bats. She has hit two home runs and recorded 5 RBI. Saturday will mark the first meeting between the Colonials and the Phoenix.

Presbyterian (2-3)
The Blue Hose won’t have to wait long for a rematch with Elon after playing in last weekend’s Phoenix Softball Clash. The Phoenix claimed the 2-0 victory over PC on Friday, Feb. 17, off the arm and bat of E. O’Shea. The senior only gave up four hits and struck out four batters, while also going 3-for-3 at the plate with one RBI. The Blue Hose bounced back in its last game of the tournament, defeating Bucknell, 8-3. Elon and Presbyterian will face one another twice in the Gamecock Invitational.

South Carolina (7-3)
The Phoenix and the Gamecocks met for the first time last season in a doubleheader at Beckham Field. The two squads split the series with USC taking the first game, 2-0, and Elon coming back in the rubber match for an 8-1 win. Elon’s Erin O’Shea pitched the complete game in the win, giving up only one run off six hits. The Gamecocks are hitting .330 and holding opponents to .221 at the plate. The USC pitcher’s own a compiled ERA of .226.

Common Threads
While the Elon softball team is playing in the Gamecock Invitational, the Phoenix baseball team will also be playing USC at Carolina Stadium. Fans of the maroon and gold can check out both squads over the weekend in Columbia.

The Bocock Box
After last weekend’s tournament, Kathy Bocock is 5-2 as the head coach of the Elon program. She holds a 241-306 career coaching record.

Elon In February
Since 1992, the Phoenix is 92-82-1 all-time in the month of February. Elon recorded a program-best mark in 1998 when it started the season 9-1.

Top of the SoCon
Elon currently leads the SoCon in team batting and ranks second in team pitching. On offense, the Phoenix is averaging .345 at the plate, while the pitching staff holds a 1.87 ERA. Camille Hill leads the conference in runs scored with nine and Nester has stolen the most bases with five.

On Deck
The Phoenix will play one more tournament before returning home to East Field on March 10. Elon will participate in the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic next weekend, March 2-4, in Woodstock, Ga. The maroon and gold will face Kennesaw State in its first game of the tournament on Friday, March 2, at 5 p.m. The Phoenix will also play Southeastern Louisiana, Georgia State, Rhode Island and host Georgia Tech.