Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Elon softball team cut a seven-run lead by the North Carolina Tar Heels down to just three runs in the top of the fifth on Wednesday night, April 20, at Anderson Stadium in Chapel Hill, but a trio of errors in the bottom half of the inning snowballed into a four-run inning for UNC en route to a 11-4 setback for the Phoenix.

Elon falls to 20-20 with the setback, while UNC improves to 28-19 and snaps a four-game losing skid.

The Phoenix offense loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth after Camille Hill reached on an error following a hard hit ball to short and back-to-back singles from Danielle Lafferty and Jackie Gonzalez. Elon made it a 7-2 game and put runners on the corners on the next at-bat after Carleigh Nester reached first on a fielder’s choice at short for the first out of the inning. Caitlin McGowan pulled the Phoenix within three after smoking a two-run double down the left field line to plate pinch-runner Hannah Shelton and Nester to make it a 7-4 game and force UNC starter Lori Spingola back in the game for reliever Sara Buchholz.

But the Tar Heels capitalized a trio of Elon fielding miscues in the bottom half of the inning, as three throwing errors allowed two runs to cross the plate, giving UNC a 9-4 advantage. North Carolina tacked on two more runs in the inning following a two-run single up the middle from Brittany McKinney to make it an 11-4 game and all but seal the win.

Tomeka Watson went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run and a stolen base, while McGowan finished 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI.

#Erin O’Shea# took the loss for the Phoenix in the circle and falls to 7-10 on the year after going one and a third inning. O’Shea gave up seven runs on five hits, three walks and two hit batters.

Senior Lauren Taylor struck out seven Tar Heels in four and two-thirds innings of relief, giving up four runs, none of them earned, on six hits and two walks.

After Elon went scoreless in the top of the first, despite a two-out single from Watson, the Tar Heels capitalized on two free passes, including a bases loaded walk, and four hits to plate five runs to take a 5-0 lead. North Carolina received a two-run single from Dani Manko in the first, as well as an RBI single to right field from McKinney.

UNC tacked on two more in the bottom of the second to take a 7-0 lead after a bases loaded walk to Ally Blake and an RBI single to center from Brittany Robinson.

The Elon offense got a spark from Watson in the top of the fourth after the sophomore roped a Spingola offering over the head of left fielder Kelli Wheeler for a leadoff double, her second hit of the game. Watson scored shortly thereafter after stealing third and scoring on a throwing error by UNC catcher McKinney to make it a 7-1 game.

After the Phoenix cut UNC’s lead to three in the top of the fifth, the Elon defense recorded three errors in the bottom half that allowed the Tar Heels to score four runs and reclaim a seven-run lead, 11-4.

Elon returns to East Field on Friday and Saturday, April 22-23, to host the Western Carolina Catamounts. The Phoenix and Catamounts will play a single game on Friday at 4 p.m. before wrapping up the series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.