GREENSBORO, N.C. - Elon's Tomeka Watson hit a two-out, two-run single in the top of the seventh inning that proved the difference as the Phoenix rallied past UNC Greensboro on Friday, 2-1.
UNCG (13-18, 3-3 Southern Conference) was in position for the win thanks to Kaitlin Merkt's solo home run in the second inning, but Elon (23-7, 8-2 SoCon) made sure the lead didn't stand with the late rally.
UNCG starter Cory Mattson (7-9) struck out the first Elon batter of the seventh before Ashlee Crewe drew an eight-pitch walk. Mattson got a popout to shallow center for out No. 2, but Jacqueline Gonzalez singled up the middle and both runners advanced a base on a UNCG fielding error. Watson followed with a single through the left side on the first pitch she saw, plating Crewe and Gonzalez to put Elon on top for the first time on the day.
The Spartans made it interesting in the bottom half of the frame, as Brittany Ausley worked back from an 0-2 count to single up the middle, bringing up pinch-hitter Katie Stripling.
Stripling, who has come up with several two-out pinch hits for UNCG already this season, was unable to add another as Elon held on for the win.
UNCG led for most of the day after Merkt's homer, her fifth in the last eight games. The Spartans missed a chance for a crucial insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, wasting a leadoff double from freshman Eileen Horsmon, her second two-bagger of the day.
Elon pitcher Lauren Taylor (10-3) worked out of trouble, however, striking out the next three batters in order to escape the jam.
UNCG had one other outstanding scoring chance, but came up just a few feet short of blowing the game open.
In the bottom of the fourth, Horsmon crushed a one-out double to right field. After a popup for the second out, Emily Akiyama was hit by a pitch and Heather Robb worked a walk to load the bases.
That brought up senior Whitney Sirois, who hit her first career home run earlier in the season. The catcher from Hope Mills, N.C., nearly added a grand slam to her resume, but her towering drive was hauled in by Watson on the warning track in left center to keep it a one-run game and leave the bases loaded.
Mattson took the tough loss, allowing two runs, just one of them earned, on five hits and two walks, striking out nine. Four of Elon's five hits came in the final 2 innings.
Taylor picked up the win with 3 innings of two-hit relief. She struck out four.
Starter Erin O'Shea went 4-plus innings, allowing a run on three hits and two walks. She struck out three.
Horsmon finished 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, while Merkt was 1-for-3 with a home run to lead the Spartans at the plate.
Gonzalez and Watson had two hits each for Elon.
The teams will tangle again Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Game one will feature UNCG's Strike Out Cancer campaign, with proceeds benefitting UNCG's Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society. Every strikeout during the game will be dedicated in honor or in memory of someone battling or who has battled cancer.
AGATE
Elon 2, UNC Greensboro 1 (Apr 02, 2010 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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Elon................ 000 000 2 - 2 5 0 (23-7, 8-2 SoCon)
UNC Greensboro...... 010 000 0 - 1 5 2 (13-18, 3-3 SoCon)
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Pitchers: Elon - Erin O'Shea; Lauren Taylor(5) and Kaitlyn Piazzolla; Ashley Myers.
UNC Greensboro - Cory Mattson and Eileen Horsmon; Whitney Sirois.
Win-Lauren Taylor(10-3) Loss-Cory Mattson(7-9) T-1:55 A-113
HR UNCG - Kaitlin Merkt (5).
Weather: 87 degrees, sunny
O'Shea faced 1 batter in the 5th.
- UNCG -
