Elon Softball Phoenix Falls Short Versus Virginia Tech

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team twice rallied to tie the game in its contest versus Virginia Tech, but was unable to hold off the Hokies as the Phoenix suffered a 5-3 setback on Wednesday, April 27, in nonconference action at Hunt Softball Park.

Elon (25-22) had battled back to tie the game in both the second and fifth frames, but a two-run top of the sixth by the Hokies (25-27) made the difference. The loss was Elon’s third straight overall and snapped a three-game win streak during nonconference play. The Phoenix was also doomed by four errors in the game.

At the Plate: Virginia Tech had a slight advantage over the Phoenix in total hits (9-8), but also 10 runners left on base…Kara Shutt, Hannah Olson and Emily Roper each had a pair of hits to led the Phoenix offensively…Both Roper and Olson also drove in a run along with Emily Cameron…Shutt and Olson had a double in the game with Shutt achieving her 19th of the season, which stands alone for the second-best performance in a single-season in school history.

In the Circle: Abby Barker (6-6) took the loss in the circle for the Phoenix as the rookie pitched 4.1 innings and gave up four hits, three runs and one earned run…Both Elise Walton and Kiandra Mitchum pitched in relief of Barker with Mitchum holding the Hokies hitless in her 2.0 innings of action.

The Rundown: Virginia Tech scored the first run of the game on a bases loaded walk. Leadoff hitter Breanna Davenport got aboard on a single and advanced all the way to third with one out after a stolen base and a fielding error. With the bags full, a free pass to VT’s Emma Strouth brought her in and plated the go-ahead run in the opening frame.

Roper began the second with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. In danger of being stranded after a foul out to the first baseman recorded the second putout, Roper was able to cross home plate thanks to Cameron’s single to left center to tie the game at 1-1.

A couple of Phoenix miscues in the fifth led to the Hokies retaking the lead. Davenport reached again to open the frame on a Phoenix error and moved over to second on a grounder on the next at bat. A passed ball advanced her to third before Virginia Tech moved back in front on a wild pitch. A RBI single through the left side added another run while putting the Phoenix in a 3-1 deficit.

Elon responded by getting two back in the home half of the fifth. After Shutt, who reached earlier in the inning on a single, moved over to third on a passed ball, Olson’s double to right center drove her home and brought the Phoenix back within one. Roper followed with a single to center to bring in Olson and tie the game at 3-3.

The Hokies though answered in the top of the sixth and retook the lead of good. Davenport singled to center field and scored Vanessa Gonzalez, who led off the inning with a single. Another RBI single to left field brought in another run and gave Virginia Tech a 5-3 cushion.

The Phoenix could not answer this time, going down in order in both the sixth and seventh frames as Virginia Tech held on with a 5-3 victory.

On Deck
The Phoenix welcomes sixth-ranked James Madison to Hunt Softball Park for its final slate of home games in a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series this weekend, April 30-May 1. Action kicks off with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 30, at 1 p.m.