Elon Softball Returns to Action Against Charlotte Wednesday

ELON, N.C. – The Elon softball team (17-7, 6-3 SoCon) returns to East Field on Wednesday, April 4, for a non-conference doubleheader against Charlotte (16-18) at 3 p.m. The Phoenix will then travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., for a three-game SoCon series against Chattanooga (19-13, 5-2 SoCon) to complete five games in four days on Friday, April 6 – Saturday, April 7.

A Look at the Phoenix
Elon holds a 17-7 overall record and a 6-3 SoCon record going into this week’s contests. It’s been 10 days since the Phoenix hit the field for a game and the maroon and gold is ready to make up for it’s 6-2 nine-inning loss to Samford the last time out. Elon is still in the top three in the conference in team batting (.284) and team pitching (2.45).

Scouting the 49ers
Charlotte is 16-18 on the year and coming off a doubleheader victory at George Washington last Sunday. The 49ers outscored the Colonials, 8-5, in the two games off the arms of Lexi Betancourt and Katie Watkins. Charlotte is hitting .263 as a team with 34 hits, including 10 home runs, coming from Briana Gwaltney. Betancourt is 10-8 in the circle this year with a 3.57 ERA.

Scouting the Mocs
Chattanooga sits second in the conference standings with a 19-13 overall record and 5-2 in the SoCon. The Mocs lead the league in batting with a .336 average and are fourth in pitching with a 2.72 ERA. Sara Poteat has scored the most runs in the SoCon at 39 and is second in hits with 49. Vivian Morimoto has hit a total of 10 home runs this season, which ranks second in the league.

The Series
The 49ers are 13-9 all-time against the Phoenix and won the doubleheader (1-0 and 6-1) between the two last year in Charlotte, N.C. The last win for Elon came in the form of a 4-3 decision on April 22, 2010.
The Mocs also own the series over Elon by a count of 17-6. The Phoenix lasted defeated Chattanooga, 2-1, in 2010’s series in Chattanooga. UTC won the four games against the maroon and gold last season.

The Bocock Box
Interim head coach Kathy Bocock is now 17-7 at the helm of the Phoenix program. She holds a 253-401 career coaching record.

Game Addition
Elon has added a doubleheader with James Madison on Wednesday, April 11, in Harrisonburg, Va. The first game will begin at 3 p.m., followed by the second game at approximately 5 p.m. The Phoenix and Dukes meet earlier this season on Saturday, Feb. 18, in the Phoenix Softball Clash. JMU won the game 7-4, while the rematch scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 19, was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Pink Day
Wednesday marks Elon softball’s annual Pink Day when the team will wear pink jerseys and shoelaces in support of breast cancer awareness. The ladies of Zeta Tau Alpha are sponsoring the game and will be handing out pink ribbons to all fans. Zeta members will also be selling baked goods and t-shirts with all proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Jeanine Patton-Coble from Little Pink Houses of Hope will throw out the first pitch of the 3 p.m. game.

On Deck
After the series at Chattanooga, the Phoenix will play the newly scheduled doubleheader at James Madison at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11.