TOWSON, Md. – The Elon University softball team had an early lead, but was unable to hold it and suffered a 8-3 setback at the hands of Towson on Sunday, April 17, in a Colonial Athletic Association road rubber match at Tiger Softball Stadium.
The Phoenix (23-19, 7-5 CAA) had its second league series loss in its first conference road trip of the year to the Tigers (29-11, 6-5 CAA). Towson also improved to 6-5 all-time against the maroon and gold in the all-time series.
At the Plate: The Phoenix had only four hits in the contest with rookie Ashtyn Foddrell accounting for two of them…Kara Shutt had a double for Elon, her 14th of the year and the 28th in her career…Hannah Olson had her third home run of the year in the top of the fourth.
In the Circle: Elise Walton (7-5) took the loss for the Phoenix after going only 2.0 innings while giving up four runs off seven hits…Kiandra Mitchum pitched 4.0 innings in relief and allowed four runs off five hits with three strikeouts.
The Rundown: Elon jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Emily Cameron led off the game with a walk and was joined on the bases by Shutt on a rare infield double with one out moving the pair into scoring position. The pair crossed home plate off an error by the second baseman that put the Phoenix in the early lead.
Towson took the lead with a three-spot in the bottom of the second. Courtney Johnson reached on an error and advanced to scoring position along with Caroline Reid after the latter hit a one-out double into center. After a popup, back-to-back RBI singles by the Tigers tied the game at 2-2 before the go-ahead run crossed home plate on a RBI single by Holiday Cahill that put Towson ahead, 3-2.
Another two runs came across the plate in the bottom of the third for the Tigers. TU’s Nicole Stockinger hit a two-RBI single to shallow right to increase the Tigers’ lead to 5-2 to close out the third.
Elon added a run in the top of the fourth. Olson added her second home run of the weekend on a solo blast to left field to pull the Phoenix within two, 5-3.
Towson however added a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth that put the Phoenix in a five-run disadvantage. Brook Miko’s one-out shot over the right center wall made the score 8-3 in advantage of the Tigers.
That would set the final score as Elon was unable to challenge the Tigers offensively in the final three frames to make up the deficit.
On Deck
Elon continues its road trip with a short trip to Greensboro, N.C., for a single-game at North Carolina A&T on Wednesday, April 20. That contest is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.