ELON, N.C. – Home runs by freshman Kara Shutt and sophomore Carey Million helped the Elon University softball team to a 5-3 game one victory over UNCW in a scheduled Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader on Friday, May 1, at Hunt Softball Park.
Elon began play in the nightcap and jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first before heavy rainfall caused the game to be suspended until 11:30 a.m. tomorrow, May 2.
The Phoenix’s (28-20, 9-10 CAA) win over the Seahawks (19-25, 5-14 CAA) coupled with College of Charleston’s two losses versus Hofstra on Friday afternoon, assured Elon a spot in the upcoming CAA Tournament next week at Harrisonburg, Va. Elon currently sits in the third position ahead of Towson, who split at Delaware early in the afternoon and is 9-11 in the CAA.
After falling behind 3-0 after the top of the fifth inning, the Phoenix knotted the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth on a three-run homer by Shutt, her third of the year. Million put the maroon and gold up for good with her two-run blast to left center later in the inning. It was her fourth home run of the season.
Alaina Hall led Elon at the plate with two hits as Elon had six total on the day. Kayla Caruso (10-4) picked up the win in relief after pitching two scoreless innings with a strikeout. Phoenix starter Chelsea White went five innings with four hits and three runs allowed with three strikeouts and was perfect through her first four innings.
Both teams will play the series finale after conclusion of the second game tomorrow. The Phoenix will honor its six-person senior class of Eve Clausen, Grace Eng, Sarah Little, Caitlin O’Shea, Aly Quintana and White at 10:40 a.m. prior to the resuming the second game.
The Rundown: UNCW plated the first runs of the game in the top of the fifth frame. Pinch hitter Brittanne Gasser delivered a two-out RBI single to third for the first run of the contest before Merritt Wilkinson added two more scores on a base hit up the middle. The Phoenix responded with five runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth. After Hannah Olson and Hall reached on leadoff singles, Shutt tied the contest on a three-run home run to left center. Milliion then broke the tie with her two-run bomb to left, scoring Emily Cameron who reached on a walk.
Inside the Box Score: Elon hit 4-for-11 (.364) with runners on…Elon also left three runners on base compared to two for UNCW…The Seahawks were 3-for-9 (.333) with two outs while the Phoenix was 0-for-5.
Notes of Interest: This was Elon’s seventh career win (7-5) over UNCW at the fastpitch level…Hall now has 19 multi-hit games on the year…Shutt now has 10 multi RBI games on the season…This is the Phoenix’s third game of the year with multi home runs, all victories.