Softball Drops Series Finale at Elon
4/11/2009 8:55:00 PM | Softball
Elon, N.C. - The Georgia Southern softball team (19-17, 9-6) won games one and two against Elon for the first time in the series' history, but they were unable to complete the sweep after Elon (13-20, 4-8) scored three late runs to win 6-3. The game was tied 3-3 going into the sixth inning, but Elon scored three runs to win 6-3 in game three.
Elon scored three runs in the first inning, taking their first lead of the series. Brandi Jones led off the game with a base hit to center and advanced to second after Patti Weber was hit by a pitch. Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.) got the second out of the inning quickly, but a base hit by Kaitlyn Piazzolla scored Jones. Weber scored the second run of the inning on Erin O'Shea's base knock. Pam Delpizzo loaded the bases with a walk and forced a pitching change. Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) came on in relief and quickly retired the side.
The Eagles returned the favor in the second inning scoring three quick runs on back-to-back home runs by Sam Russo (Snellville, Ga.) and Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.), her first homer of her career, forcing the Phoenix to bring O'shea in to pitch.
Elon threatened in the bottom half of the second, putting runners on first and second with no outs; but Smith got out of the inning without any damage. Jones reached on a lead-off walk and moved to second on Jacqueline Gonzalez's base hit. Robyne Siliga (Oceanside, Calif.) almost turned a double play and recorded the first out of the inning, getting the lead runner at third. Smith struck out Jaimie Rao and Piazzolla to retire the side.
Georgia Southern threatened to break open the 3-3 tie in the sixth inning after Amanda Hall (Haddock, Ga.) led off with a base hit and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Smith. O'Shea, however, had different plans and retired the side with two straight outs.
The Phoenix loaded the bases in the bottom half of the sixth and scored two runs on bases loaded walks. Hannah Shelton led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on Gonzalez's base hit. Three straight walks loaded the bases and forced in two runs. Kristan Glover (Evans, Ga.) came on in relief of Smith and struck out Melanie Helterbran for the second out of the inning. O'Shea drove in another run with an infield base hit. Glover retired the side with a ground ball to short.
Softball returns home to face Charleston Southern in a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
