CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Fourth-seeded UNC Greensboro saw second-seeded Elon rally for five runs in the top of the seventh inning to claim the Southern Conference Championship on Friday, 6-3. UNCG senior Amber Harrell was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Joining Harrell on the all-tournament team were teammates Alex Emeterio, Eileen Horsmon and Whitney Sirois.
The Spartans (27-30), playing in their first-ever SoCon title game, held a 2-1 lead going into the final inning, but saw the Phoenix (38-19) put together four hits to blow the game open. Tomeka Watson got the rally going with a double to the gap in right center, and Jacqueline Gonzalez beat out an infield single to put runners at first and second.
A UNCG error on Caitlin McGowan's sacrifice attempt allowed Watson to score the tying run, and Emerald Graham's single up the middle knocked in Gonzalez with the go-ahead. Kaitlyn Piazzolla then hit a towering home run down the left field line, a three-run shot to make it 6-2. Harrell retired the next three batters in order to stop the bleeding.
The Spartans would put together a bit of a rally in the bottom half of the frame, with Brittany Ausley reaching on an error to lead off. One out later, Emeterio singled through the right side to bring in Ausley with UNCG's third run of the game.
The rally would end there, however, as Elon reliever Lauren Taylor got a groundout and a strikeout to end the game and give the Phoenix its first-ever SoCon title.
Elon drew first blood in the game, getting an RBI single from McGowan in the third inning.
The Spartans answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of some wildness from starter Erin O'Shea, who walked two and hit a batter to load the bases. Senior Laura Olenderski drew a bases-loaded walk to knock in the tying run, and Ausley followed with an RBI groundout to put UNCG on top.
UNCG starter Cory Mattson made the lead stand until the seventh, but took the loss to fall to 10-14 on the year. She allowed five runs – four earned – on 10 hits in six-plus innings. Harrell allowed a run on one hit in one inning.
Taylor picked up the win for the Phoenix, allowing an unearned run on two hits in 3 2/3 innings. O'Shea allowed two runs on three hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings.
Emeterio was 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead UNCG, while Gonzalez had three hits to pace Elon.
In addition to playing in their first SoCon title game, UNCG won two games at the tournament for the school-record fourth straight season.
All told, Harrell went 2-1 with a 1.47 ERA in four appearances at the tournament. She struck out 17 and did not walk a batter and came within an out of no-hitting No. 1 seed Chattanooga on Thursday. She finished her career with a school-record 657 strikeouts and the season with 214, the second-most in a single season in school history.
Emeterio hit an even .500 in the tournament, going 7-for-14. Horsmon hit .429 with a grand slam against Chattanooga, while Sirois worked every inning behind the plate and had a two-run triple against Elon on Thursday.
UNCG's four all-tournament selections were the most in school history, as the Spartans had never had more than two. Harrell's Most Outstanding Player selection was also a first in school history.
AGATE
Elon 6, UNC Greensboro 3 (May 14, 2010 at Chattanooga, Tenn.)
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Elon................ 001 000 5 - 6 11 1 (38-19)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 200 1 - 3 5 3 (27-30)
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Pitchers: Elon - Erin O'Shea; Lauren Taylor(4) and Kaitlyn Piazzolla. UNC Greensboro - Cory Mattson; Amber Harrell(7) and Whitney Sirois.
Win-Lauren Taylor(17-7) Loss-Cory Mattson(10-14) T-2:05 A-168
HR ELON - Kaitlyn Piazzolla (11).
Weather: 84 degrees, mostly cloudy
Mattson faced 4 batters in the 7th.
- UNCG -
