Elon Softball Heads North to Drexel For CAA Series

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team hits the road for its second Colonial Athletic Association series of the year as the Phoenix travels to Drexel for a three-game slate beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 28, at 11 a.m. The series concludes on Sunday, March 29, at 12 p.m.

Live Coverage
Fans can follow the Phoenix this weekend via live stats by going to the Elon softball schedule page at elonphoenix.com. Twitter updates will also be provided the handle @elonscores or @ElonUSoftball.

Series History
This is the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the softball diamond. Drexel is one of two schools currently in the CAA that Elon has not faced in previous seasons along with Hofstra.

Last Time Out
Elon went 1-1 in its early mid-week games on Tuesday, March 24 against Radford and on Wednesday, March 25, versus UNCG. The Phoenix pulled out a 5-4 victory against the Highlanders thanks to a walk-off RBI single by Emily Cameron, but suffered an 11-9 setback to the Spartans the following day despite nearly rallying back from a 10-0 deficit after the top of the third.

Scouting the Phoenix (19-9, 1-2 CAA)
Despite the setback on Wednesday against the Spartans, Elon is still outscoring its opponents this season by a margin of 123-100. The Phoenix has a record of 12-2 when scoring first and an overall record of 12-1 when outhitting opponents.

Elon jumps out quickly versus its opponents, scoring 29 runs compared to 14 in the opening frame. The Phoenix also has a 26-19 run advantage in the third inning.

The Phoenix is in the middle of the pack of the CAA with a .265 average, but is first overall in hit-by-pitches (33) and second in walks (80). Defensively, Elon also stands second in the league in fielding double plays (eight).

Freshmen Hannah Olson (.392) and Kara Shutt (.330) are the only Phoenix players hitting better than .300 this season. Emily Roper (.297) and Carey Million (.291) are not far off the mark however as Roper carries a season-high nine-game hitting streak into this weekend and Million has reached base in eight straight games.

In the circle, Elon’s hurlers have combined for an ERA of 2.61 so far this season, which stands fourth in the league. That mark would also be the best staff ERA in program history at the Division I level. The Phoenix also paces the CAA in total saves with seven as four members of its six-person staff have recorded at least one save. Senior Caitlin O’Shea still needs one more save to become the program’s all-time career leader and break Jen Lamb’s (2003-04) 11-year mark of six.

Scouting Drexel (9-8, 1-1 CAA)
Tabbed to finish eighth in the 2015 CAA Preseason poll after coming off a 17-27 overall record a year ago (4-14 in the CAA), the Dragons sit at 9-8 on the year with a 1-1 mark in league play. Drexel has won six out of its past nine after earning a 5-3 win at Georgetown on Wednesday, March 25.

Drexel leads the CAA with a .328 average in its 17 games and is also first in on-base percentage at .386. The Dragons are ranked among the top three in the CAA in slugging percentage with average of .447. Leticia Matsuoka has a team-best .385 average while Vanessa Lightfoot paces the team with 22 total hits. Matsuoka also has a team-high three homers on the year.

Taylor Lee has seen the most time toeing the rubber for the Dragons, who carry a total team ERA of 2.65 into this weekend. Lee has posted a 6-5 record and an ERA of 1.74 in her 72.1 innings while Katie Haley (1-1, 2.21) is the only other pitcher to have thrown more than 10 innings on the year for Drexel.

On Deck
Elon continues its road swing to Virginia Tech on Wednesday, April 1. That single-game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.