ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team clinched a spot in the five-team field of the Colonial Athletic Association 2016 Softball Championships next week at James Madison, May 10-13 despite having its final league series at Delaware cancelled earlier on Saturday afternoon, May 7.
The Phoenix was scheduled to face the Blue Hens in a doubleheader today for its final slate of games of the regular season, but the contests were cancelled due to unplayable fielding conditions at Delaware’s softball stadium. The cancellation of games left Elon with a 9-8 ledger during CAA play and a second consecutive berth to the CAA Tournament.
Elon clinched the No. 4 seed and will fittingly face No. 5 seed Delaware to open the tournament on Tuesday, May 10, at 3 p.m. The winner of that game moves on to face No. 1 seed and eighth-ranked James Madison on the following day, May 11, at 2:30 p.m.
Earlier on Wednesday, second-seeded Towson (35-15, 11-8 in CAA) squares off against third-seeded College of Charleston (33-21, 11-9 in CAA) at noon. The final contest of the day takes place at 5:00 p.m. and is an elimination game, featuring the loser of Tuesday’s tournament opener between the Phoenix and Blue Hens, versus the loser of the Game 3 contest.
Three more games are slated for Thursday, May 12. Teams playing in the first game of the day at noon will earn a spot in Friday’s title contest with a win. The loser, however, will have to come back at 5:00 in another elimination game against an opponent that plays in the same format at 2:30 p.m.
The conference championship game takes place on Friday, May 13 at noon and can be seen live on CAA.tv as well as on the American Sports Network (ASN). A second game will follow, only if necessary, 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
Tournament Seeds:
1 – James Madison Dukes (43-4, 18-1 in CAA)
2 – Towson Tigers (35-15, 11-8 in CAA)
3 – College of Charleston Cougars (33-21, 11-9 in CAA)
4 – Elon Phoenix (26-23, 9-8 in CAA)
5 – Delaware Blue Hens (29-19, 9-9 in CAA)