Elon Softball Falls to NC State

ELON, N.C. – A five-run deficit in the first inning proved to be too much for the Elon softball team to overcome as the Phoenix (16-29) fell 11-0 to NC State (27-18-1) on Wednesday, April 24, in a non-conference contest at Hunt Softball Park.

Juniors Carleigh Nester and Lauren Oldham both had two hits to lead Elon offensively as the maroon and gold registered seven total hits as a team. Oldham also added a triple to her stat line.

Kayla Caruso (8-12) took the loss for the Phoenix after allowing six hits and five runs, two earned, in 2.0 innings. NC State’s Emily Weiman earned the win after going 4.0 innings and allowing six hits with five strikeouts.

Renada Davis led off the game with a single up the middle and advanced to third on a one-out double by Chelsea Tate. The Wolfpack plated the first run of the game after Davis scored after Hanna Sommer reached on an error. A single by Scout Albertson drove in Tate to make the score 2-0 before a three-run home run by Leah Jones pushed NC State’s lead to 5-0 after the top of the first.

After a scoreless inning and a half, Elon had an opportunity to add some runs to the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Oldham hit a one-out triple to right field to give the Phoenix a runner in scoring position. Oldham would however get thrown out at home on a Tomeka Watson fielder’s choice on the next at bat. A pair of singles by Nester and Grace Eng loaded the bases for the Phoenix, but Weiman struck out the next batter to end the inning.

NC State added four more runs to the scoreboard in the fourth, two coming on an Albertson single up the middle and another pair on a Jones single through the left side.

The Wolfpack concluded its scoring on a two-run home run by Davis in the top of the fifth to make the score 11-0. The Phoenix could not respond in the bottom half and fell to NC State.

The Phoenix will look to rebound this weekend in a three-game Southern Conference series at Furman. Both teams will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 27, before the series finale on Sunday, April 28, with both games starting at 1 p.m.