WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team split a pair of games on Saturday, April 23, as the Phoenix took game one of a Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader at UNCW, 3-2, but fell in the nightcap, 2-0, as Boseman Field.
Elon (25-20, 8-6 CAA) and the Seahawks (26-19, 5-8 CAA) return to the field tomorrow, April 24, for the rubber match as the game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
Game One: Elon 3, UNCW 2
The Rundown: The Phoenix fell behind in the opening game in the bottom of the first. Ashley Best’s two-RBI single to right center gave the Seahawks an early 2-0 lead after the first frame.
Elon responded with a two-spot of its own in the top of the second. Kristin Hoover’s two-out RBI to center field drove in Callie Horn, who reached earlier on a fielder’s choice, to plate the Phoenix’s first run of the contest. A pair of wild pitches led to Hoover herself scoring the tying run to knot the game at 2-2.
The maroon and gold continued to threaten and finally broke through in the top of the sixth. Alaina Hall provided the go-ahead RBI on a single to the shortstop to score Erica Serafini, who reached earlier on a leadoff single. Elon jumped in front 3-2 going to the seventh.
The Seahawks had a runner reach third in the final inning with two outs, but Elon was able to induce the final out on a popup to seal the 3-2 victory.
At the Plate: Elon had nine hits in the contest with Hall and Emily Roper as the only performers with multi-hits in the game…Hall and Hoover had Elon’s lone RBI in the contest with one each…Hall also added a stolen base to her stat line, her fifth of the year.
In the Circle: Kayla Caruso (8-5) was the winner in the circle for the Phoenix after the Kennesaw, Ga., native went 6.0 innings and gave up two runs off six hits and struck out three…Kiandra Mitchum earned her first save of the year after relieving Caruso in the seventh and gave up a hit in her 1.0 inning of work.
Game Two: UNCW 2, Elon 0
The Rundown: The second game was a bit of a pitcher’s duel as neither team could break through offensively. A couple of great defensive plays by the Phoenix kept the Seahawks from scoring a pair of runs through the first five innings, but Elon was also unable to capitalize with four base runners left on base through five innings.
UNCW answered in the bottom of the sixth as Best hit a one-out single to the shortstop that scored the first run of the game and gave the Seahawks a 1-0 advantage. Another run scored on the next at-bat on another single that gave UNCW another insurance run.
The Phoenix was able to get a runner into scoring position with one out on a double by Erica Serafini, but a strikeout and a popup ended the threat as the Seahawks emerged with the 2-0 victory.
At the Plate: Elon outhit the Seahawks, 6-5, but suffered only its third loss of the year when outhitting the opponent (19-3)…Roper had two hits in the second game and was 4-for-6 overall in the two contests…The Phoenix left 15 runners on base between the two games.
In the Circle: Starter Elise Walton (7-6) took the tough-luck loss for the Phoenix after going 5.1 innings and allowed two runs, one earned, off four hits…Walton has been winless since April 2 and has suffered four losses during the time span…Mitchum again pitched in relief as she threw two-thirds of an inning and gave up a hit.