Phoenix Softball Falls in Doubleheader at Longwood

FARMVILLE, Va. – Despite an offensive-powered first game, the Elon softball team was not able to claim a win in a mid-week doubleheader at Longwood today, April 25. The Phoenix (20-19) fell to the Lancers (28-25) by scores of 10-6 and 6-0 at Lancer Field.

Game 1
The Lancers put the first runs of the game on the board in the bottom of the second. A double to right center by Jordan Cox scored the first run, while a double to left by Courtney Long made it a 2-0 lead for Longwood.

Elon got hot in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs to take a three-run lead, 5-2. With one out and one on, Johanna Spencer sent the ball over the fence in center for a two-run homer, her first of the season, and the first Phoenix runs of the day. After singles by both Danielle Lafferty and McKenzie Harrelson, Carleigh Nester hit the rare inside-the-park home run down the right field line to push three more runs across the plate for the maroon and gold.

Longwood responded in the bottom of the frame with six unearned runs off five hits. After three runs had scored to tie the game, Brooke Short homered to add two more runs to the board and regained the lead for the Lancers, 7-5. Chelsea White came in to relieve Caitlin O’Shea for the Phoenix before Ashley Kramer hit a home run just over the center field fence to take an 8-5 advantage.

The Phoenix pulled within two runs in the top of the fifth to make it an 8-6 game. Lafferty knocked in a two-out RBI with a single to left that scored Grace Eng from second. Eng had singled through the left side earlier in the inning and advanced to second on a walked batter.

The Lancers would score two more in the game to take an eventual four-run victory, 10-6.

The win went to Longwood’s Libby Morris (11-13) who pitched 4.1 innings and gave up all six of Elon’s runs, all earned, off of seven hits. C. O’Shea (2-4) took the loss after allowing two earned runs off seven hits in 3.2 innings of work. The save went to Ashley Cornell who pitched the final 2.2 innings and gave up only one hit and struck out three of the eight batters she faced.

Nester went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored one run and three RBI. Lafferty recorded a pair of hits in her three at bats adding a run and one RBI.

Game 2
Longwood put two runs on the board early with a run in both the first and second innings. The Lancers scored its second run on a solo shot to center field by Brittany Latka.

The Phoenix had a chance to put a run on the board in the top of the fourth with a runner in scoring position. Spencer singled to center field to start the inning and then stole second. A ground out by Lafferty advanced Spencer to third with just one out, however, Elon was not able to push her across the plate.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Lancers added two more runs for a 4-0 advantage. Leta Bressin knocked in a run on a two-out triple to center and then scored on a throwing error by Lafferty that would have recorded the third out of the inning.

Kari Pervell took over pitching duties for Elon in the bottom of the fifth, relieving Erin O’Shea. Short scored from third for Longwood to make it 5-0 on a single to right by Kramer. Short had hit a leadoff double to right and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. The Lancers added another run in the bottom of the sixth to take the second game, 6-0.

Morris (12-13) claimed her second win of the game, pitching five shutout innings. E. O’Shea fell to 13-9 on the season with the loss after three earned runs off five hits in four innings of work.

The Phoenix will return to conference play this weekend with its final road series of the season. Elon will play a three-game set at Georgia Southern starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 28.