Elon got a strong outing from starting pitcher Erin O’Shea, and the Phoenix survived a rally by Georgia Southern in the seventh inning to claim a 3-2 win in the opening game of the Southern Conference softball tournament Thursday at Jim Frost Stadium.
Ashlee Crew gave Elon the lead in the bottom of the second inning with a two-run home run of GSU pitcher Brianna Steetmon, and Hannah Shelton knocked in a third run in the bottom of the fourth while O’Shea limited the Eagles to one hit over the first six innings.
In the seventh, Megen Smith led off the inning with a home run and Georgia Southern pulled with in a single run on an RBI single by Kelley Burnett. But Elon ended the threat when right fielder Shelton made a spectacular diving catch in foul territory off the bat of Mackenzie Williams.
Elon will play next at 7:30 tonight against the winner of today’s second game between the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and UNC Greensboro, which is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. Georgia Southern will take on the loser of the UTC-UNC Greensboro matchup in an elimination game at 5 p.m.