Big Hits Send Hofstra Past Elon Softball Phoenix, 8-2

ELON, N.C. – Three home runs through the first four innings to Hofstra was too much to overcome for the Elon University softball team as the Phoenix was handed a 8-2 setback by the Pride in its Colonial Athletic Association series finale on Sunday, April 1, at Hunt Softball Park.

BOX SCORE

Elon (18-16, 2-4 CAA) ended up being swept in the series by Hofstra (20-8, 6-0 CAA) who remain the lone undefeated team in the league. The Pride also increased its win streak to six games against the Phoenix and improved to 10-2 all-time versus the maroon and gold.

At the Plate: Elon posted seven hits in the contest with Hannah Olson recording two with a homerun, her second of the season…The Phoenix left nine base runners on…Kara Shutt, Ally Repko and Katrina Martin doubled in the game…Olson and Repko also had a RBI in the contest.

In the Circle: Abby Barker took the loss for the Phoenix, falling to 6-6 on the year…The Granville, Ohio, native pitched 2.1 innings with seven hits and five runs allowed before yielding to Kenna Quinn in the third…Elise Walton also pitched in relief for Elon, throwing 3.0 scoreless frames.

The Rundown
The Pride got on the board early in the top of the opening inning. Hofstra reached on a one-out double before scoring courtesy of a two-run home run to left center to make the score 2-0. Two more runners would reach via a couple of Phoenix errors, but Elon held them from adding more damage as the inning turned to the home half.

Elon fought back to join the Pride on the scoreboard on Olson’s solo shot in the bottom of the first. The Yorktown, Va., native took a 0-2 count and connected for her second round tripper of the season to bring the Phoenix within one, 2-1.

Hofstra came back with a run in the top of the second. Elon allowed a one-out walk, but induced the next out on a fly out to left field. The Pride stayed alive with a single that advanced the lead runner to second before an RBI base hit to third drove her home for move Hofstra’s advantage back to two, 3-1.

A two-run homerun in the top of the third increased Hofstra’s lead before another three runs crossed the dish in the fourth, including another homer by the Pride’s Brittany Allocca, her second of the game. The Phoenix was able to recover to close out the inning, but faced a 8-1 deficit going into the fifth.

In the bottom of the fifth, Elon had a chance to cut into its deficit after having a pair of runners reach with no outs. Shutt led off the frame on a double and was joined on the bases by Olson on a walk. The Pride went with a pitching change, which effectively worked as the next three batters were retired to leave the runners stranded.

The Phoenix finally plated a run in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a couple of Hofstra errors and Repko’s RBI double. That would be the last score of the game as Hofstra buckled down to preserve the 8-2 victory and its second straight sweep.

On Deck
Elon travels to Longwood for the start of a nine-game road swing on Wednesday, April 4. The Phoenix and the Lancers will meet for a doubleheader which is slated for a 4 p.m. opening pitch.