Elon Softball Phoenix Downed in Non-Conference Tilt to Longwood

ELON, N.C. – A pair of three-run innings fueled by a couple of home runs from Longwood’s Emily Murphy doomed the Elon University softball team as the Phoenix suffered a 6-3 defeat at the hands of the Lancers in a non-conference bout on Tuesday evening, April 21, at Hunt Softball Park.

The Phoenix (26-16) could not overcome an early 3-0 deficit to the Lancers (23-23) as Longwood won its eighth straight contest over the maroon and gold. Elon slightly had a better day at the plate than Longwood with eight hits compared to seven for the Lancers. Alaina Hall and Kara Shutt led the way for the Phoenix with a pair of 2-for-4 performances with one RBI each.

Kiandra Mitchum (8-8) toed the rubber from the start for Elon and went 6.0 innings with seven hits and six runs given up. She also walked one batter and struck out three. Alli Burdette tossed a scoreless seventh in relief.

Elizabeth McCarthy (18-12) drew the win for Longwood after going 4.1 innings with six hits and three runs allowed. Libby Morris earned her first save of the year on a scoreless 2.2 innings effort in relief.

The Rundown: Longwood got on the board first on a one-out, three-run home run to left center by Murphy and took an early 3-0 advantage in the top of the opening frame. Elon responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the third behind RBI singles from Hall and Aly Quintana that trimmed the Lancers’ lead to 3-2. Longwood got a run back behind a one-out, RBI single before Murphy added her second homer of the contest on a two-out, two-run blast to right center that put the Phoenix in a 6-2 hole in the top of the fifth. Shutt answered with an RBI single in the home half of the inning, but the maroon and gold was unable to manufacture any more offense and fell 6-3.

Inside the Box Score: Elon left 11 runners on base including the bags full in the fifth and sixth innings…The Phoenix was 5-for-21 (.238) with runners on…Katie Rufo drew two hit-by-pitches while Quintana received one…The Phoenix batted .714 (5-for-7) when leading off.

Notes of Interest: Elon and Longwood are now tied at 11-11 in the all-time series…This was the 17th multi-hit game of the year from Hall and the 13th for Shutt…Hall also extended her hitting streak to a season-high eight games…This was Mitchum’s longest outing of the year since she went 8.0 innings versus Central Connecticut on March 7…The Phoenix has received a hit-by-pitch in seven straight games.

On Deck: Elon travels to in-state rival North Carolina for its final nonconference game on the road in a single-game contest on Wednesday, April 22. The opening pitch is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.