ELON, N.C. - Appalachian State University softball heads to Elon this weekend to take on the Phoenix in a three-game series starting Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader and a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
ASU is off to an 11-7 overall start and is 2-1 in SoCon play while Elon is 15-4 overall and 3-0 in conference play.
About the Mountaineers
Appalachian got a huge spark from sophomore Michelle Lighton when she hit an eighth in grand slam in the series finale on Sunday to give ASU a 5-1 win and the series win over Samford. Lighton has also been a standout at catcher, as she has thrown out 6-of-9 base stealers.
Katie Boyd leads the team with a .348 batting average and is tied for the team-lead with 12 walks and is second on the team with 10 stolen bases.
Freshman Allie Cashion has nine hits on the year and all but one have gone for extra bases (6 doubles, 2 homers). She leads the team in doubles and is tied with Boyd for the team lead in walks.
Despite having just 17 at bats, Hayley Grabner is hitting .353 with three runs scored.
Caitlin Wainright leads the pitching staff with a 5-2 record and 1.29 ERA with 48 strikeouts. Freshman Frannie Seader is 4-0 with a 2.74 ERA.
About the Phoenix
After a last place finish in the SoCon last season, Elon has already matched last season's win total with 15 wins. The Phoenix started the season winning its first seven games, with wins over Rider, Georgetown and IUPUI. After dropping a game to IUPUI and games to Minnesota and No. 4 Georgia, Elon got back on track with a 1-0 win over No. 20 North Carolina.
Emerald Graham leads the hot-hotting Phoenix with a .463 average and has five homers and 19 RBI. Ashley Crewe and Danielle Lafferty also have five homers apiece while Lafferty has a team-high 25 RBI.
Tomeka Watson has also been a key to the offense, hitting .400 with a team-best 11 stolen bases.
The Phoenix are hitting a SoCon best .343 as a team.
Erin O'Shea leads the team with a 1.81 ERA and 6-1 record while Lauren Taylor has seven wins but a 3.83 ERA.
Up Next
ASU will host Gardner-Webb in the home opener on Thursday, March 25 in a 4 p.m. doubleheader.
