Elon Softball Falls to Hofstra to Open CAA Tournament

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Elon University softball team fell in its opening game of the Colonial Athletic Association Softball Tournament to Hofstra by a score of 10-0 on Wednesday, May 6, at Veterans Memorial Park on the campus of James Madison.

The third-seeded Phoenix (30-21) saw its four-game win streak snapped at the hands of the No. 2 seeded Pride (35-11-1), who extended its own win streak to 10 games. The Pride last lost to the Phoenix on April 19, 5-2, in Hofstra.

Caryn Bailey had a pair of home runs and four RBI for the Pride while Lacey Clark also added four RBI and a home run on the day for Hofstra, who had 13 hits compared to two for the Phoenix. Seven players has a least one hit for Hofstra while Elon’s Emily Cameron and Carey Million recorded the lone base hits for the Phoenix.

Senior Chelsea White (5-3) took the loss in the circle for Elon after going 1.2 innings with five runs allowed off seven hits. Hofstra starter Taylor Pirone went five innings and gave up two hits.

The Rundown: The Pride was the first team to plate a run on the scoreboard off a one-out, solo home run to center by Bailey in the bottom half of the first. Hofstra extended that lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second inning after back-to-back home runs by the Pride to help cap off a four-run frame. After nearly a three-hour lightning delay, the Pride extended its lead thanks to a five-run bottom of the fourth to take a commanding 10-0 advantage. That would be the final score as the game ended on a double play in the top of the fifth with the bases loaded for Elon.

Inside the Box Score: Elon went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-6 with runners on…Nine of Hofstra’s 10 runs were scored off home runs…The Pride was 5-for-13 (.385) with runners in scoring position.

On Deck: The Phoenix moves into the elimination bracket and faces Towson at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow, May 7. Elon will be the designated home team and with a win will face the winner of the winner’s bracket between host and No. 1 seed JMU and Hofstra, who begins the slate of games tomorrow at noon.