Elon Softball Falls Late at Longwood

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Elon University softball team could not maintain an early 5-0 lead and fell late to Longwood, 6-5, on a seventh inning walk-off hit by the Lancers on Wednesday, at Lancer Field.

Justina Augustine lined a bases loaded single to center field in the bottom of the seventh to hand the Phoenix (21-21-1) a tough loss and its fifth straight to the Lancers (31-9). Elon recorded seven hits in the game, but none after the second inning after the Phoenix took a 5-0 lead.

Elon was the first to score a run in the top of the first frame. The Phoenix had back-to-back leadoff singles from Alaina Hall and Carleigh Nester before Emily Cameron drove in Hall on another single through the left side. Nester would cross home plate on a one-out single by Grace Eng up the middle to give the Phoenix a 2-0 lead after the top of the first.

The Phoenix added three more runs to the scoreboard in the top of the following inning. Carey Million hit a one-out double to the right field fence scoring on another double by Hall to put the Phoenix up 3-0. Hall then advanced to third on a stolen base before being joined by on the bases by Nester, who drew a walk. Nester then stole second to give the Phoenix a pair of runners in scoring position before Cameron drove them both in on a single to left center that gave the Phoenix a 5-0 advantage after the top of the second.

Longwood plated its first runs in the bottom of the fourth. Katie Shinrock beat out a single to the pitcher to lead off the frame and moved to second on the next at bat. Megan Baltzell hit a liner that looked to be headed down the right field line, but Eng put up her glove in time to slap it down to tag her out a first. Shinrock would later score on an Elon error to trim the Phoenix’s lead to four, 5-1.

The Lancers would load the bases with one out in the fourth after Jamie Barbour singled to first base. After a line out, Longwood scored its second run on a bases loaded walk to pull within three, 5-2. Elon would escape the inning on a pop up to the shortstop.

Another run by the Lancers in the bottom of the fifth sliced Elon’s lead to two. Carly Adams singled to first base with two outs to drive in Baltzell, who had reached earlier on a walk. The Phoenix recorded the final putout on a grounder to the pitcher to move the game to the sixth with the score 5-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, Longwood pulled within one behind a RBI triple down the right field line from Baltzell. Baltzell drove in Shinrock, who had reached earlier after receiving a free pass to make the score 5-4. The Phoenix was able to record a putout on next at bat, but a Phoenix error led to Baltzell scoring the tying run, knotting the game at 5-5.

After a walk that led to the bases being loaded, Augustine took a delivery to center field, scoring the winning run in Adams to end the game.

Elon starter Caitlin O’Shea (6-12) received the loss after giving up six runs, four earned, on 10 hits. Cameron led the way at the plate after going 2-for-4 with three RBI. Hall also had two hits for the Phoenix while scoring a pair of runs.

The maroon and gold continues its road trip this weekend with a three-game series at East Carolina beginning with a single game on Friday, April 18, at 5 p.m. The Phoenix and the Pirates wrap up the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m.

              1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R  H E
   Elon       2 3 0 0 0 0 0 5  7 2
   Longwood   0 0 0 2 1 0 3 6 10 1

Win – McCarthy (14-4). Loss – O’Shea (6-12). Save – None.

Umpires – HP: Rich Vargas 1B: Roger Potts 3B: Amber Dewald
Start: 6 p.m. Time: 2:14 Attendance: 98
Weather: 52 degrees, clear