ELON, N.C. – Elon University softball senior pitcher Kayla Caruso threw the game of her life as her complete-game effort in a 15-inning bout helped the Phoenix to a 5-4 upset victory over sixth-ranked James Madison in game one of a Colonial Athletic Association twin bill on Saturday, April 30, at Hunt Softball Park. JMU responded with an 8-1 victory in game two to split the doubleheader.
The opening game victory was Elon’s (26-23, 9-8 CAA) second-ever win against a top-10 opponent with its first coming at No. 8 Georgia in 2013. JMU’s loss was its first in regular-season league play since the 2014 season, snapping a string of 42 straight victories. It was Elon’s first overall win versus a nationally ranked opponent this season and its highest ranked victory ever. The 15-inning game also tied for the longest in the country this season, with the Phoenix achieving the feat twice this year.
Game One: Elon 5, No. 6 James Madison 4 (15)
The Rundown: The Phoenix jumped out the gates quickly against the Dukes taking a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the opening frame. With a runner a third, Hannah Olson’s one-out sacrifice fly to right field scored Kara Shutt, who opened the inning with a double, to give Elon the early 1-0 advantage.
After both teams battled through three scoreless frames, JMU responded to tie the game in the top of the fifth. Jessica Mrozek doubled to open the inning before being replaced by a pinch runner. After a sacrifice bunt advance her to third, the runner crossed home plate on Madyson Moran’s sac fly to left field to tie the game at 1-1.
The game eventually went into extras and in the 10th inning, JMU took the lead for the first time. With a runner at second, Moran blasted a two-run home run to left center that put the Dukes up 3-1 and seemingly in control of the game.
Elon did not go away quietly in the home half of the 10th as Emily Roper reached on a one-out single to left field to give Elon the tying run at the plate. A pair of errors on the next play by the Dukes gave Elon the tying runs in scoring position before rookie Erica Serafini knocked them in on a single to tie the game at 3-3.
The Phoenix saw itself down a run to the Dukes in the top of the 12th. Moran answered again with an RBI single to right field to score Nikki Prince, who had reached earlier in the inning on a leadoff double. That put the Dukes back in front, 4-3.
The Phoenix quickly answered right back with Olson knotting the game at 4-all after her leadoff solo home run to left. The longball was the fifth of the season for the Yorktown, Va., native and moved the game to 13th.
Caruso and the Phoenix got into a jam in the top of the 13th. After a popup recorded the first putout, JMU followed with a single and a double to have runners in scoring position with only one out. Caruso however responded by striking out the side to end the threat.
In the bottom of the 15th, senior Emily Cameron led off the inning with a single to right field and moved to second on a sac bunt. That set the stage for Shutt, as the Greensboro, N.C., native sent a single into center field for the walk-hit as Cameron scored to secure the 5-4 victory for the Phoenix.
At the Plate: James Madison had 14 hits in the game compared to 10 for the Phoenix…Shutt and Serafini had the only multi-hit performances for Elon…The Phoenix also left six base runners on the bags compared to 10 for JMU…Olson and Serafini both had two RBI in the contest…The Phoenix struck out 15 times.
In the Circle: Caruso pitched a gem of a game, going the full 15.0 innings, which is the longest outing for a pitcher this season in the nation. She allowed 14 hits, four runs while striking out seven and walking only one. She also lowered her ERA to 2.74 on the year. JMU’s Jailyn Ford (14-2) took the loss after going 5.0 innings in relief giving up five hits and a pair of runs. Megan Good started for the Dukes and went 9.1 innings and allowed five hits, three runs, one earned, with nine strikeouts.
Game Two: No. 6 James Madison 8, Elon 1
The Rundown: The Dukes opened the scoring in game two in the top of the third on a sac fly and a bases loaded walk to take a 2-0 lead after the frame.
Elon got a run back in the bottom of the fourth. Alaina Hall scored from third off a RBI fielder’s choice from Serafini that pulled Elon within one, 2-1.
JMU however put up a five-spot in the top of the fifth to increase it lead to 7-1. In the home half of the frame, Shutt recorded her 21st double of the season with two outs, setting a new single-season school-record in that category and breaking Dani Concepcion’s (2002-05) old mark.
A solo home run by Moran in the top of the sixth set the final score however as Elon was unable to answer back and fell in game two, 8-1.
At the Plate: Elon only registered four hits versus the Dukes in game two with each of them coming from four different players…Both teams left five base runners on the bags.
In the Circle: Abby Barker took the start and the loss in the second game for Elon, dropping to 6-7 on the year. She pitched 3.0 innings before being relieved by both Elise Walton and Kiandra Mitchum. JMU’s Good earned the win in relief to improve to 27-2 this season.
On Deck: Elon and JMU are back on the field for the rubber match tomorrow, May 1, at 1 p.m.