Elon Softball Wins Two at Citrus Classic

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Elon University softball team had a pair of victories on Saturday, Feb. 21, on the team’s first day at the Citrus Classic at the ESPN World Wide Leader Complex. The Phoenix had a 7-2 victory over George Washington in its first game followed by a 1-0 win over Jacksonville State.

The maroon and gold closes out the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 22, with games against Morgan State at 10 a.m. and versus Virginia at 12:15 p.m.

Elon 7, George Washington 2
The Phoenix scored all of its runs in the top of the second inning in its victory over George Washington. Elon plated the first two runs of the game on an error by the second baseman on Sarah Little’s at bat, scoring Emily Roper and Carey Million. A RBI by Madison Kadlic followed that on a single to the shortstop, loading the bases.

Hannah Olson sent Little home on a double to center and a passed ball by the Colonials brought Kadlic home to make the score 5-0. Elon padded its lead with a single by Kara Shutt to score Olson. The Phoenix completed its scoring line on a sacrifice fly by Roper to bring home Alaina Hall.

GW would answer with two runs of its own in the bottom of the seventh, but could not overcome the early deficit to fall to 2-7. Elon improved to 4-4, snapping its four-game losing streak.

The run support was more than enough for Elon starter Kiandra Mitchum (3-2), who went five innings and set a new personal-high with six strikeouts while giving up only one hit.

Elon 1, Jacksonville State 0
In the second game, Elon starter Kayla Caruso went through a pitcher’s duel with Jacksonville State’s Taylor West. Both hurlers did not allow a run until the top of the sixth when the Phoenix plated the only run of the game.

Shutt supplied the lone RBI in the game as the Greensboro, native hit a two-out triple to center to drive in Kadlic, who reached earlier on a hit-by-pitch to lead off the frame.

Senior pitcher Chelsea White, who relieved Caruso in the sixth, shut down the Colonial’s lineup in the bottom of the seventh with a pair strikeouts, giving the Phoenix the shutout victory. Caruso went 4.2 innings and gave up three hits to go along with four strikeouts. White earned the save after she went 2.1 innings and struck out five and gave up no hits.