ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team suffered a pair of setbacks in its 2018 season opener, falling to intrastate rival Charlotte in a doubleheader on Friday evening, Feb. 9, inside Hunt Softball Park.
The losses snapped a six-game opening day win streak at home for the Phoenix (0-2) with Charlotte (2-0) improving to 20-12 all-time in the series versus Elon.
Game One: Charlotte 5, Elon 2 (8)
The Rundown: The 49ers opened the game with a run in the opening frame after Elon was called for an illegal pitch with the bases loaded. The Phoenix however rebounded to tie the game in the bottom of the third thanks to the bat of sophomore Walker Barbee. Junior Erica Serafini reached base with two outs off a single to right center then advanced to second on an errant throw by the center fielder. Barbee followed with a single to right field, enabling Serafini to score and tie the game at one-all.
Elon took the lead in the bottom of the fourth as freshman Katrina Martin blasted a leadoff solo home run for her first collegiate hit. The round tripper made the score 3-2 for the Phoenix, but the remainder of the maroon and gold bats were retired in order.
Charlotte would get one back in the top of the fifth to tie the game once again. The leadoff batter for the 49ers reached on an error and advanced to second on a stolen base. A fly out and a single through the left side helped her plate the tying run to knot the game at 3-3.
The Phoenix nearly answered back in the home half of the fifth, advancing runners into scoring position with two outs. Hannah Olson led off the frame with a double and was joined on the bases by Serafini with one out after she drew a free pass. The pair advanced to scoring position on a grounder to first, but would be stranded as a foul out to the left fielder induced the final out.
As the game moved into extras, a wild top of the eighth inning doomed the Phoenix. Charlotte plated the three go-ahead runs in the inning and pushed its lead to 5-2. Elon was unable to answer back in the home half and fell in the opening game to the 49ers by that score.
At the Plate: Charlotte outhit the Phoenix, 9-5, but left 12 baserunners on in the opening game…Five different players recorded the five hits for Elon…Serafini drew two walks in the contest.
In the Circle: Kenna Quinn (0-1) took the loss in the circle for Elon while Haley Wiseman (1-0) was the victor for the 49ers…Elon starter Kiandra Mitchum threw 6.0 innings and allowed seven hits and two runs, one earned, while striking out four…Quinn tossed 2.0 innings in relief and allowed three runs off two hits with a strikeout…Wiseman pitched a complete game for Charlotte and struck out 10 batters.
Game Two: Charlotte 6, Elon 3
The Rundown: Despite having an early 3-0 lead through the first two innings, the Phoenix could not hold off the 49ers in the second game of the day. Elon plated the first run of the second game in the opening inning off a throwing error by Charlotte taking a 1-0 lead.
Elon increased that lead to two in the bottom of the second. Freshman Ally Repko led off the inning with a double to left field and moved to third on a single up the middle by newcomer Tia Mitchell. After Mitchell moved into scoring position on a stolen base, she and Repko crossed home plate on a double to right center by Kara Shutt pushing Elon’s advantage to 3-0.
Charlotte got a run back in third and fourth frames to trim Elon’s lead to 3-2 heading into the fifth. A three-run top of the fifth for the 49ers enabled them to take the lead over the Phoenix with the score moving to 5-3. An insurance run added in the sixth by Charlotte put the game out of reach with the 49ers pulling away with a 6-3 victory.
At the Plate: Charlotte tacked on 11 hits in the second game compared to seven by the Phoenix…Mitchell and Shutt led the Phoenix with two hits each…Shutt also drove in two RBI and had two doubles.
In the Circle: Abby Barker (0-1) took the loss for Elon after pitching 4.1 innings and allowing five hits, four runs, three earned, with a strikeout. Three others (Jamie Finnical, Hailey Jomp and Elise Walton) also pitched in relief for Elon.
On Deck
The Phoenix will host North Carolina Central in its second doubleheader of the weekend on Saturday, Feb. 10, with the first game starting at 1 p.m.