GREENSBORO, N.C. – A two home run performance from senior Carey Million and a nine-strikeout, complete game gem from junior Kiandra Mitchum aided the Elon University softball team to a 11-1 victory over Triad rival UNCG on Friday, March 17, in the first of the three-game series at UNCG Softball Stadium.
Elon (16-8) extended its season-high win streak to six games with its first true road victory of the season over the Spartans (15-10). It was the second straight victory for the maroon and gold over its former conference and I-40 rival.
At the Plate: The Phoenix had its sixth double-digit hit game of the season with 12 total hits…Five players had multi-hit performances in the batter’s box with Hannah Olson (2-for-3), Alaina Hall (2-for-4), Kara Shutt (2-for-3), Million (2-for-3) and Callie Horn (2-for-3)…Million’s two home runs were the second multi-homerun game of her career and the first since 2014 for the Phoenix when she did it versus Coppin State on March 2…Million also had five RBI while Olson had three…Hall also homered, her first of the season, and drove in two runs.
In the Circle: Mitchum (9-4) threw another gem in her recent start as the Mechanicsville, Va., native and reigning Colonial Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week allowed three hits and no earned runs in the contest…Her nine fanned batters gives her 80 total on the season, the second-best in the CAA.
The Rundown: Elon jumped out to a fast start in top of the opening frame. Each of the Phoenix’s top three hitters in the lineup reached on singles to load the bases before Million cleared them all on a grand slam over the left field fence to put the maroon and gold ahead 4-0.
UNCG got a run back in its home half. The Spartans’ Jasmine Palmer, who led off the frame with a double to left field and advanced to third on a passed ball, scored thanks to a RBI single by Gabrielle Cubbage. UNCG got a pair of runners on with two outs before Mitchum closed the inning with her second strikeout to hold a 4-1 advantage for the Phoenix.
After quiet second and third frames, the maroon and gold exploded with a six-run top of the fourth. Emily Roper reached on a one-out walk and advanced to second after Walker Barbee’s bloop single to center. After Nicole Graber came on to pinch run at second, a single up the middle by Horn loaded the bases. A wild pitch on the next batter enabled Graber to score and move the other runners into scoring position. A bases-clearing double by Olson increased the Phoenix’s lead to 7-1 before Hall blasted her first homer of the season over the center field wall to put the maroon and gold ahead 9-1.
UNCG induced the second out on a fly out, but Million added her second home run of the game with a solo blast into left center. That plated the sixth run of the frame and gave the Phoenix a 10-1 cushion.
Elon added another in the top of the fifth. Olson’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Erica Serafini, who lead off the inning on a walk. That would be more than enough support for Mitchum, who struck out the side in the Spartans’ home half to close out the game via a 11-1 run-rule victory.
On Deck
Elon concludes the three-game series versus the Spartans tomorrow, March 18, with a twin bill starting at 2 p.m.