Elon Softball Travels For Doubleheader at Charlotte

ELON, N.C. – The Elon softball team travels to Charlotte on Wednesday, March 5, for a doubleheader against the 49ers. The first pitch of the opening game is scheduled for 3 p.m. with the following game at 5 p.m. at the D. L. Phillips Complex.

Live Coverage
Fans can follow the action of the games via live stats by going to the Elon softball schedule page at elonphoenix.com. Twitter updates will also be provided at @ElonScores.

Series History
Wednesday’s matchup against the 49ers will be the 24th meeting between the two schools. Charlotte holds a 14-9 advantage over the Phoenix in a series that dates back to 1998 in the fast-pitch era. The two programs met last season in Elon, with the 49ers defeating the Phoenix, 5-0. The last win for Elon came in the form of a 4-3 decision on April 22, 2010.

Last Time Out
Elon swept Manhattan College in a doubleheader on Sunday, defeating the Jaspers, 8-7, in game one thanks to a Johanna Spencer walk-off home run. The Phoenix completed the sweep in game two with a score of 10-5.

Spencer had two home runs in the first game and went 4-for-4 at the plate with four RBI. Elon had four players contribute with two hits, including Carleigh Nester, Camille Hill and Tomeka Watson who added an RBI each.

Watson went 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and three RBI in the second game as the Phoenix had its third game of the season scoring double-digit runs. Amanda Allen also went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Scouting the Phoenix
Elon improved to 8-5 after the weekend and has won seven of its last eight games after opening the year 1-4. Offensively, the Phoenix paces the Southern Conference in a number of categories including batting average (.329), slugging percentage (.568), on base percentage (.409), RBI (71) and home runs (21).

Watson was named the SoCon’s Player of the Month on Monday, March 4, for her performance in the month of February. The Jackson, Ga., native hit 18-for-35 (.514) with seven home runs, 16 runs scored, 14 RBI, 43 total bases and was 6-for-6 in stolen bases. Watson also had seven multi-hit games – including six straight – and hit safely in nine of Elon’s 11 contests. She also had a streak of a home run in six consecutive contests.

Along with Watson, six players are hitting .300 or better in the Phoenix lineup and have recorded double digit hits. Spencer and Grace Eng are tied for second on the team with four home runs apiece with Spencer trailing Watson for the team-lead in RBI, 18-17.

The Elon pitching depth has contributed to the Phoenix success this season. Five players have seen time toeing the rubber for the maroon and gold with four earning wins. Freshman Kayla Caruso has seen the most time in the circle for Elon in 37.0 innings of work. The Kennesaw, Ga., native has posted a an overall ERA of 3.59, but has lowered that to 1.75 in her last four starts, all complete games, while going 3-1.

Scouting Charlotte
The 49ers are also 8-5 on the season and are coming off an 8-6 win against Middle Tennessee State on March 3, at the Auburn Invitational. Charlotte won two of its three games played at the tournament.

Chelsea Ingersoll is one of three players hitting .400 for the 49ers with a team-best .475 average. She also has four homers and 11 RBI for Charlotte. On the base paths, Natalie Capone and Samantha Slade are tied for the team-lead in stolen bases with five.

Katie Watkins has been Charlotte’s No. 1 pitcher throughout the 2013 campaign, appearing in 53.0 innings with a 5-5 record and a 3.57 ERA.

On Deck
Elon opens Southern Conference play this weekend, March 9-10, hosting Georgia Southern. The Phoenix and the Eagles will play a doubleheader on Saturday before completing the series on Sunday. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. on both days at Hunt Softball Park.