Elon Softball Takes Game One Over Cougars; Game Two Suspended

ELON, N.C. – The Elon softball team picked up the win in the first game of a doubleheader against visiting College of Charleston today, May 5, before game two was suspended due to rain. The Phoenix (22-23, 9-13) defeated the Cougars (30-21, 12-9) with 2-1 victory at East Field, while game two was in the top of the fifth with the game tied at two-all.

Game One
The maroon and gold took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second after Erin O’Shea helped her own cause with a solo home run to left on a 1-1 offering from Stephanie Saylors.

But the Cougars answered in the top of the third after Carly Corthell singled up the middle with one out to score Hope Klicker from second to make it a tied game.

Both squads went scoreless until Elon broke through for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth. Following a leadoff single by Kaitlyn Piazzolla, a sacrifice bunt and groundout moved pinch runner Charyssa Parent to third with two outs for Camille Hill. Hill came through in the clutch for the Phoenix, slapping a 3-1 pitch through the left side to score Parent and give Elon a 2-1 lead. Hill finished game one 1-for-3 at the plate.

College of Charleston put the tying run on base in the seventh, but E. O’Shea shut the Cougars down to preserve the game one win.

E. O’Shea (14-13) went all seven innings for the win, giving up one run on five hits and two walks while fanning four Cougars in her 10th complete game of the season. E. O’Shea also went 1-for-2 at the plate, hitting her fifth home run of the year.

Saylors (16-12) took the loss for CofC after giving up two runs on three hits over six innings of work, striking out four batters.

Game Two
After CofC posted a run in the top of the first to take an early lead, the Phoenix answered with a two-run bottom half to take a 2-1 advantage. Carleigh Nester led off the inning with an opposite field double to the gap in right center and scored later in the inning from third after stealing home on a double steal while Hill swiped second. Elon tacked on one more in the first on an RBI double to right by Tomeka Watson to claim the lead.

The Cougars responded in the top of the third to tie the game, as an RBI double to left by Maples scored Jarrett to make it a 2-all game.

After one and half scoreless innings, Mother Nature forced the suspension of play. The game will resume tomorrow, May 6, at 1 p.m. in the top of the fifth inning. The third and final game of the series will follow the conclusion of game two.

Elon will celebrate Senior Day and the final home contest for Danielle Lafferty, E. O’Shea, Piazzolla before play at 12:40 p.m. tomorrow. Sunday’s games will also mark the last at East Field as the team will begin playing at Hunt Softball Park in 2013.