SoCon honors Phoenix’s O’Shea as Player of the Week
Senior pitcher Erin O’Shea was named the Southern Conference’s softball Player of the Week for games played March 5-11.
She helped the Phoenix to a series sweep of Furman University over the weekend, hitting .714 with five hits, four runs, four RBI and three stolen bases. She had a hit and a stolen base in each of the Phoenix’s three games.
On the mound, O’Shea picked up two wins, including a complete-game win in her 100th appearance for the Phoenix on Saturday in a 9-1 victory over the Paladins. She picked up another complete game and her fourth shutout of the year in a 3-0 win Sunday to complete the sweep. Her record now stands at 8-1.
O’Shea is the second Elon softballer to be honored by the SoCon this season. Junior catcher Camille HIll was named the conference’s Player of the Week for games played Feb. 10-12.
Swim included on Johnny Bench Award watch list for best catchers
Elon junior catcher Alex Swim was one of 43 catchers named to the Johnny Bench Award watch list for the 2012 college baseball season by coaches.
As of March 12, Swim was leading the team in batting average (.305), hits (18) and RBI (9). He batted .280 and started all 57 games in his sophomore year, and was named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team while hitting .310 with two home runs and 40 RBI in his first year for the Phoenix.
The Johnny Bench Award is presented annually to the top catcher in NCAA Division I by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. The list will be updated until May 7. Nominees must serve as a team’s starting catcher in at least 75 percent of the team’s games.
Swim is one of four SoCon catchers on the list, joining Appalachian State University senior Jeremy Dowdy, Wofford College senior David Roney and Samford University senior Brad Moss. James Madison University’s Jake Lowery won the award in 2011.
Track and field team completes first outdoor event of season
The Elon women’s track and field team had several top performances in the Coastal Carolina Invitational this weekend in Myrtle Beach.
The 4x400-meter relay team, made up of sophomore Bria Bell, sophomore Veronica Luedke, freshman Louise Prevoteau and senior Amy Salek, finished first in the event with a time of 3:50.49. The 4x100-meter relay team, comprised of senior Dana Cataldo, sophomore Kayleigh Birks, Bell and Luedke, claimed second in the event, finishing in 47.67.
Salek won the 400-meter dash for the Phoenix with a time of 55.71, and finished third out of 84 in the 200-meter run, finishing the race in 24.77. Bell finished seventh in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.05. Luedke took first place with the 400-meter hurdles, completing the event in 1:03.06.
Elon’s next meet is the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh March 30.
Phoenix women golfers finish 10th at JMU Eagle Landing Invite
The Elon women’s golf team finished 10th in a field of 18 teams March 9-11 in the JMU Eagle Landing Invite in Jacksonville, Fla.
Elon junior Diana Davis placed in a tie for 21st out of 101 players with a tournament total of 225 (75-74-76). Senior Lauren Lebak finished tied for 27th with a final score of 227 (75-76-76), and junior Martyna Mierzwa tied for 59th, shooting 243 (74-84-77) over three rounds.
The University of South Florida won the team title with an 883, and Campbell University sophomore Kaylin Yost shot a total of 215 (67-74-74) to win individual medalist honors.
Ten of the nation’s top 100 programs participated in the event. The unranked Phoenix bested No. 97 Samford University (916) and No. 93 James Madison University (305-307-308).
Elon will be back on the course in the Pinehurst Challenge in Pinehurst starting March 19.