COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Elon softball team defeated Presbyterian, 2-1, for the third time in nine days in the final game of the Gamecock Invitational today, Feb. 26. The Phoenix went a perfect 3-0 in the tournament and is now 8-2 on the season, while the Blue Hose are 2-7.
Tomeka Watson (1-0) picked up her first win for the maroon and gold after going six innings, giving up four hits and one unearned run. Leslie Hensley (1-3) took the loss, pitching six innings for the Blue Hose and allowing two earned runs off two hits.
Watson and Camille Hill both went 1-for-3 at the plate for and scored Elon’s two runs.
The Phoenix didn’t waste time getting on the scoreboard, scoring both runs in the bottom of the first. Hill singled to the shortstop to lead things off and then moved to third on a single to right field by Watson. Watson then stole second to put two runners in scoring position with only one out. Kaitlyn Piazzolla pushed Hill across the plate for a score, while reaching on a fielder’s choice and then stealing second. With Watson on third and Piazzolla on second, a sacrifice fly to left field by Cyra Cottrell scored Watson and put Elon up 2-0.
After five scoreless innings, the Blue Hose got on the board in the top of the seventh. Hayley Bonner, a pinch runner for Erin Taylor, scored PC’s first and only run of the game off a single to right field by Padgett Harrington. Taylor reached on a fielding error by Elon third baseman Johanna Spencer, while Bonner advanced to second after a walk and to third on a wild pitch. Presbyterian’s comeback attempt fell short after Erin O’Shea relieved Watson and struck out the next two batters and got the final out to pop up to second.
Elon will compete next in Georgia Tech’s Buzz Classic in Woodstock, Ga. The Phoenix will face Kennesaw State on Friday, March 2, at 5 p.m.