Already mired in a funk of losing eight of their last nine games, the Elon University softball team took to the field Tuesday, April 2, to take on the Longwood University Lancers. The luck would not change this time around, with the visitors sweeping the contests, 6-4 and 8-1.
In game one, the Lancers scored three runs in the first on a bases-clearing double from sophomore right fielder Chelsea Sciacca in the first inning. Elon scored its lone run in the bottom of the third inning when senior left fielder Tomeka Watson singled home junior center fielder Carleigh Nester.
Longwood used two-run innings in the fifth and seventh to seal the deal.
In the second contest of the day, Elon sophomore pitcher Chelsea White allowed six runs in two innings, more than negating the two runs the Phoenix scored in the first inning. Nester scored on a wild throw following freshman designated player Kayla Caruso’s reaching on an error. Caruso then scored when Watson singled her home.
Elon scored the game’s final two runs in the third when Caruso reached on another error, and scored on a Watson double. Watson came around to score when sophomore first baseman Sarah Little laced a double of her own.
Watson’s RBI gave her the Elon all-time record of 123 runs batted in.
Overall, Watson recorded five hits in six at-bats between the two games. Nester had a two-hit game in the second contest to go with a hit in game one. Little’s RBI double was her lone hit of the day, and the only other Elon hit came from senior catcher Camille Hill in game one.
The losses drop Elon to 12-21 overall with a weekend series at Appalachian State University on the horizon.