In its first game of the Southern Conference tournament, the Elon University softball team made history, just not the kind it was hoping to.
The Phoenix became the first team in tournament history to be no-hit, losing 4-0 to senior starter Sarah Purvis and the Georgia Southern University Eagles May 7 at UNCG softball field in Greensboro, N.C.
Purvis, the three-time SoCon Pitcher of the Year, struck out 13 batters and scattered two walks while getting just enough run support from her offense to earn her 19th win of the season.
The Eagles jumped on Phoenix junior starter Caitlin O’Shea early, scoring the game’s first run in the bottom of the first. With a runner on third and two out, O’Shea’s pitch squirted away from freshman catcher Carey Million, allowing a runner to scamper home and give the home team a 1-0 lead.
Georgia Southern would add another in the bottom of the second on a mammoth home run from Kaitlyn Johnson to right center, a solo shot, to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, a fielder’s choice groundout to second with runners on the corners gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Georgia Southern would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI groundout to second with the bases loaded to give the Eagles their margin of victory.
O’Shea (8-14) was saddled with the loss despite six solid innings, giving up four runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out one.
The Phoenix will play an elimination game at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow against the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.