GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Elon softball team closed out a three-game series with commanding 8-0 victory in five innings at UNCG today, March 18. The series win improves the Phoenix to 5-1 in Southern Conference play (16-5 overall), while the Spartans fall to 9-18 on the season and 3-3 in the SoCon.
Erin O’Shea (9-3) pitched the fourth complete-game shutout of the season, giving up only two hits and striking out three. The loss went to UNCG’s Cory Mattson (6-10) who went two innings and allowed five runs, three unearned, off five hits. Erica Navarette pitched three innings in relief for the Spartans, allowing three runs off two hits.
Danielle Lafferty went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored two runs in the game. Carleigh Nester knocked in two runs, while five other Phoenix combined for five hits in the game.
The Phoenix got things going immediately with one run in the top of the first. Tomeka Watson hit a one-out single through the left side and then stole second before McKenzie Carter drew a walk to put two on for E. O’Shea in the cleanup spot. E. O’Shea doubled to left field to score Watson and give Elon a 1-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the inning.
Johanna Spencer drew a leadoff walk to get the second inning started for the maroon and gold. She advanced to second off a single to the shortstop by Lafferty. Morgan Wright then reached on a fielder’s choice that loaded the bases with Lafferty safe at second and Spencer safe at third after a muffed throw by UNCG shortstop Heather Robb. Lauren Oldham hit a single up the middle to push Spencer across the plate and leave all the bases occupied with a 3-0 Elon lead. Lafferty then scored as Nester drew a walk off a full count from Mattson to put the Phoenix up by four. With two outs, Carter singled to right to score Nester to give the maroon and gold a 5-0 lead after two innings.
Navarette replaced Mattson in the circle for the Spartans to start the third inning. The Phoenix scored another run for a 6-0 advantage on a fielder’s choice to the shortstop by Nester that sent Cyra Cottrell across the plate from third. Cottrell was hit by a pitch at the beginning of the inning, advanced to second on a bunt by Spencer and moved to third on a wild pitch.
The fifth inning started off with a double to left field by Spencer, who was replaced by Charyssa Parent as a pinch runner. A bunt single to first by Lafferty moved Parent to third, while Lafferty then stole second. With two outs, Nester reached on a fielding error by UNCG first baseman Eileen Horsmon that scored both Parent and Lafferty for an eight-run lead.
The Phoenix was able to close out the game in bottom of the fifth to end the game early with the 8-0 victory.
Elon will return home to East Field next weekend for a SoCon series against Samford. The Phoenix and Bulldogs will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 24, beginning at 1 p.m. with the final game scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 25.