ELON, N.C. – The Elon softball team returns to the friendly confines of East Field after seven straight road games for its Southern Conference opener against Furman this weekend. The Phoenix (11-3) and Paladins (7-10) will play a three-game series, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 10, at 1 p.m. The finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 11.
A Look at the Phoenix (11-3)
Elon went 3-1 in the Buzz Classic last weekend, including a win over No. 25 Georgia Tech. The Phoenix started with a shutout victory over Kennesaw State, 5-0, and followed that up with a walk-off home run from Erin O’Shea for a 7-5 win against Southeastern Louisiana in eight innings. On Sunday, the Phoenix fell to Rhode Island, 10-2, but bounced back with an impressive 6-3 win against the nationally-ranked Yellow Jackets. The maroon and gold rank fourth in the conference in team batting (.283) and second in team pitching with a 2.18 ERA.
Scouting the Paladins (7-10)
Furman is coming off a tough 8-0 loss at No. 7 Georgia on Wednesday after going 3-2 at the Buzz Classic last weekend. The Paladins picked up wins against Alabama State, Rhode Island and Jacksonville State. Furman is hitting .241 as a team with its pitchers compiling a 2.99 ERA. Freshman Lakyn Shull was named the SoCon Pitcher of the Week after going 3-1 in 20.1 innings of work last week. Shull recorded a 0.34 ERA, including a six-hit shutout win over Alabama State.
The Series
The Phoenix and Paladins enter this weekend having played 34 total games. Furman owns the all-time series, 21-13. Last year, Furman won the series, 2-1, in Greenville, S.C. After falling 8-5 in the first game of the doubleheader, Elon came back to take the second game, 4-1, off the complete-game performance of O’Shea, who gave up one unearned run and stuck out seven.
The Bocock Box
Heading into conference play, Kathy Bocock is 11-3 as the head coach of the Elon program. She holds a 247-397 career coaching record.
Elon in SoCon Openers
Since joining the SoCon in 2004, the Phoenix is 7-1 in conference opening games and series, going 20-4 over those opening weekends. Last season, Elon opened with a 4-0 shutout victory at College of Charleston. The Cougars grabbed the second game, 1-0, before the maroon and gold took the finale, 5-2, for the series win.
Record Book Watch
O’Shea has now recorded 363 career strikeouts after fanning 39 batters this season. The senior ranks third on Elon’s all-time strikeout list and is just four away from becoming second all-time.
Stop, Thief!
Elon leads the SoCon in stolen bases with 27, while Tomeka Watson (nine), Carleigh Nester (seven) and Camille Hill (six) all rank in the top five individually in that category. Watson has stolen 57 career bases and ranks third all-time in Elon history. The junior is five bases away from tying Cheryl Spivey for second on the all-time list with 62.
On Deck
The Phoenix will host No. 23 North Carolina at East Field on Wednesday, March 14, in its next game. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Former Northern Guilford High School standout softball player Natalie Clemmons is a starter on the Furman Paladins softball team. There is an article about her on the Socon Website. The 3 game series with Elon should be a good one.