Elon Softball Falls in Doubleheader at UNCG

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Elon University softball team had its three-game win streak snapped at the hands of UNCG on Saturday afternoon, March 16, in a twin bill at the UNCG Softball Stadium. The Spartans took game one over the Phoenix, 2-0, before completing the sweep with an 8-0 win in the second contest.

Game One Box (.PDF)Game Two Box (.PDF)

The losses drop the Phoenix to 15-9-1 overall on the year while the Spartans improve to 15-10.

Game One: UNCG 2, Elon 0
Game one became a pitcher’s duel between the Phoenix’s Abby Barker versus UNCG’s Stephanie Bryden. The Spartan’s offense helped Bryden’s cause with a pair of solo home runs in the first that put UNCG up early, 2-0.

UNCG set up to add more runs in the bottom of the second. The first two batters reached on Phoenix error and a single before the pair advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Barker was able to finagle out of the jam by retiring the next two batters to move the game to the next frame.

Bryden however kept the Phoenix off the bases until a single by Erica Serafini in the fourth inning. The Tampa, Fla., native’s base hit gave the Phoenix its first runner on with two outs, but a strikeout closed the inning to leave her stranded.

Elon would get only one more base runner on for the remainder of the game as Bryden closed the game with a complete game victory with one hit allowed and 11 strikeouts. Barker (9-3) threw 6.0 innings and gave up six hits, two runs and fanned three batters.

Game Two: UNCG 8, Elon 0 (5)
Much like the first game, UNCG used the long ball to help take the early lead over the Phoenix. The Spartans used three homeruns in the first two innings to explode to a 7-0 lead over the maroon and gold.

Elon’s closest chance to scoring a run came in the top of the third. Ally Repko reached on a fielder’s choice with two outs before a fielding error advanced her and Rebecca Murray to scoring position. The Phoenix popped up on the next at bat to leave the two stranded.

UNCG added its eighth run of the contest in the bottom of the fourth on its fourth homer, two-out a solo blast into left field. That made the score 8-0 in favor of the Spartans with Elon needing to score some runs in the next half inning to keep the game alive.

Elon would get a runner on in the top of the fifth on a Megan White single, but the Phoenix was unable to move her as the game ended with the Spartans earning the 8-0 run-rule victory.

On Deck
The series between the Phoenix and the Spartans concludes tomorrow, March 17, at Hunt Softball Park. That game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.