Elon Softball Phoenix to Host Pink Day Against Appalachian State

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team returns to Southern Conference play this weekend as the Phoenix hosts Appalachian State in a three-game series beginning on Saturday, April 12, with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. The program is also holding its annual Pink Day event with the team wearing its pink jerseys in support for breast cancer awareness.

The series will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. inside the home confines of Hunt Softball Park.

Live Coverage
Fans can follow the Phoenix via live stats by going to the Elon softball schedule page at elonphoenix.com. The game will also be streamed online through Phoenix All-Access free of charge to all viewers. Twitter updates will also be provided the handle @ElonScores or @ElonUSoftball.

Pink Day
The program is hosting its annual Pink Day event on Saturday in support of breast cancer awareness. The sorority Zeta Tau Alpha will be selling baked goods and other treats while accepting donations at the main entrance of Hunt Softball Park with all the proceeds going towards a breast cancer foundation.

Series History
Elon has a 23-16 advantage all-time over Appalachian State in a series that dates back to 2001. The Phoenix was swept last season at Appalachian State, but Carleigh Nester tied an NCAA Division I softball record with three doubles versus the Mountaineers on April 6, 2013. The Phoenix won two out of three the last time the two programs met in Elon in 2012.

Last Time Out
The Phoenix defeated North Carolina A&T in its last contest on Wednesday, April 9, in Greensboro, N.C., by a score of 3-0. Caitlin O’Shea tossed her first shutout of the season after allowing just two hits to the Aggies in the complete game win. Senior Lauren Oldham (one RBI) and freshman Emily Roper (two RBI) were responsible all of the three runs for the Phoenix, who won its fifth straight over the Aggies.

Scouting the Phoenix (20-18-1, 3-9 Southern Conference)
The Phoenix ranks in the middle of the pack of the SoCon in average with .262, but have two players hitting .300 or more in its regular lineup. Alaina Hall (.366) and sophomore Emily Cameron (.337) lead the way for the Phoenix while Nester is not far behind at .294. Hall is among the top three in the conference in average, hits (45) and stolen bases (14) in her impressive rookie campaign.

Elon is still first in the league in homers with 42 and is third overall in the SoCon in fielding percentage at .968. Three players (Nester, Roper and Hall) all have a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage so far this season among players who play regularly.

O’Shea’s 2.75 ERA is sixth overall in the conference while batters are hitting only .232 against the junior. Chelsea White leads the team in wins with eight and in strikeouts with 49.

Scouting Appalachian State (15-22, 3-8 SoCon)
Appalachian State was tabbed to finish third overall in the 2014 SoCon Preseason Poll a year after the Mountaineers won the 2013 SoCon regular-season title. Head coach Shae Wesley and her squad swept East Tennessee State in a doubleheader in their most recent contests on Tuesday, April 8.

The Mountaineers post a .249 average this season, but three players are hitting above .300 or better this season. Sarah Warnock has a team-best .351 clip along with 34 hits followed closely by Cynthia Gomez at .349. Cara Parker is the top power hitter on the team with six home runs and 19 RBI.

Three hurlers have toed the rubber this season for the Mountaineers, but sophomore Shivaun Landeros has been the team’s workhorse in 2014. Landeros has a team-low ERA of 3.26 in her 116.0 innings of action while posting a record of 9-10. Overall, ASU has an ERA of 3.77 and has 182 strikeouts as a unit.

On Deck
Elon jumps back on the road and out of conference play with an early week doubleheader at Longwood on Wednesday, April 15. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.