Softball win streak at four
Veteran pitching proves vital during run Andrew High / Sports Editor
By winning both games of a double-header against visiting
Delaware State, 7-0 and 3-1 on Feb. 29, the Elon softball
team extended its winning streak to four games. This
impressive streak comes as the team prepares for its first
Southern Conference match-up against Appalachian State, March
9.
The Phoenix, 9-3-1 on the season, is getting strong pitching
performances from senior Jennifer Lamb (3-0, 2 saves) and
sophomore Whitney Meeks (4-1).
“They’re both a little bit different in the
sense that Jen Lamb tends to bring the ball up a little
more,” Elon coach Patti Raduenz said.
“She’s got very good control, a very good
change-up, she’s very good at hitting her locations.
“Then you’ve got Whitney Meeks. She’s a
sophomore and she’s still experimental. I don’t
think she’s reached her potential yet. I think
she’ll only continue to get better.”
Lamb’s earned run average stands at 0.93. In 37 and
two-thirds innings she has allowed just five earned runs.
Meeks has allowed seven earned runs in 22 and one-third
innings.
Lamb’s pitching helped the Phoenix start its winning
streak. She struck out seven in the team’s 4-3 win over
first-year program North Carolina State.
“There was never any doubt in our mind that we should
beat them and that N.C. State would be the underdog in that
game,” Raduenz said. “It’s always nice,
when people think or N.C. State, or an ACC team, [they think]
that they’re the real deal. They do have a pretty good
program there, but it’s a testament to these girls that
they’ve worked hard and put in their time and played
well against them.”
Raduenz said she believes the streak is a product or more
than just good pitching.
“Our pitching has been phenomenal,” Raduenz
said. “They’ve kept us in the game. They’ve
been very consistent, and along with that, our defense has
kept us in the game. Where other teams may be diving for the
ball, we’re making the play standing up. We also have a
deep bench we can go to.”
Meredith Gay, a freshman, picked up the win in the
Phoenix’s first game against Delaware State. Delaware
State had difficulty putting the ball in play, not hitting a
ball out of the infield until the fifth inning.
“Her delivery is a little different,” Raduenz
said. “It could be a little deceptive for the hitters.
Maybe Delaware State, coming off the games they’ve been
playing — they hadn’t seen anybody like her. She
did a good job keeping hitters off balance and most of the
time if you can keep hitters off balance, they won’t
get the ball out of the infield.”
After gaining momentum in its last four games, the Phoenix
should be a force to reckon with in SoCon play.
“I don’t think [the SoCon] knows what’s
coming,” Raduenz said. “We’re going to take
every team we play seriously. I feel pretty good about going
into conference play and being successful.”
Phoenix Notes: Outfielder Jessica Swearengin recorded her
second career inside-the-park homerun. Swearengin sent a
pitch down the third-base line and past a diving outfielder
to score.
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