STATESBORO, Ga.- Appalachian State University softball (26-23) edged Elon, 6-5 behind home runs by senior Katie Boyd and sophomore Meghan Smith in a consolation round game at the 2011 Southern Conference Softball Tournament on Friday morning at Eagle Field to advance to play the winner between College of Charleston and Samford at 5 p.m. today.

Senior Hannah Dow allowed a leadoff double to Carleigh Nester, but mowed down three batters for all three outs to get out of the inning.

Boyd's home run to center field gave ASU an early 1-0 lead and that was the only run the Mountaineers pushed across home plate in the first inning.

In the top of the second, Elon erupted for four runs to give the Phoenix a 4-1 advantage. Elon garnered back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. With a hit batter, the bases were loaded for the Phoenix. A Jackie Gonzalez fielder's choice allowed Pam DelPizzo to score. Everyone moved up a base on a wild pitch and Nester walked to load the bases back up. Dow induced a ground ball to the left side of the field and the Mountaineers allowed two runs to score on a throwing error. Tomeka Watson struck out swinging, but Emerald Graham singled to third base, allowing Nester to score, putting Elon up 4-1. DelPizzo grounded out to senior McKenzie Phillips at shortstop to end the frame.

Appalachian State regrouped in the bottom of the second and matched the Phoenix's four runs to take the lead, 5-4.

M. Phillips started the comeback with a single through the left side of the Elon defense. She got caught stealing, but senior Sarah Rappe reached in a fielding error and Boyd walked to put runners on first and second. Junior Megan Rembielak reached on another throwing error by the Phoenix and moved to second, while Boyd reached third and Rappe scored to cut into the lead, 4-2. Smith singled to shortstop, bringing in Boyd, while Rembielak scooted over to third. Another wild pitch was thrown by Lauren Taylor and Rembielak scored for another Mountaineer run. Sophomore Allie Cashion, who has been swinging a hot bat the whole tournament, came through with a single to center field in the next at bat and advanced to second on the throw, giving ASU the 5-4 lead.

Neither team could score anymore runs in the third and moved over to the fourth inning when Smith hammered a leadoff homerun to left field to increase the Appalachian lead to 6-4.

The Phoenix tacked one more on in the top of the seventh, but the Apps prevailed to defeat Elon, 6-5.

The Mountaineers were led by Smith, Cashion and M. Phillips with two hits apiece. Smith also tallied two runs and two RBI.

Dow went the distance for the second straight contest to get the win and move her record to a career-best 13-4 on the season. She struck out a season-high seven for the second time and allowed five runs on nine hits.

Live stats of the game between ASU and their to be determined opponent will be available via GoASU.com courtesy of the SoCon.