Elon Softball Suffers Setback at NC State

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Elon University softball team could not overcome an eight-run bottom of the first by NC State and fell to the Wolfpack, 13-5, on Wednesday, March 26, at Dail Softball Stadium.

Elon (16-13-1) got off to a rocky start in the bottom of the first as the Wolfpack (20-10) plated the first runs of the game. Renada Davis led off the inning with a solo home run down the left field line to put NC State on the scoreboard. More Elon miscues led to five more runs being scored by the Wolfpack in the inning before Davis added her second homer of the inning on a two-run shot to left field to give NC State a commanding 8-0 lead after the opening frame.

NC State added three more runs in the bottom of the second due to wild pitches and other Elon mishaps. Molly Hutchins was walked to lead off the inning and was replaced by pinch runner Hannah Yeager. Yeager advanced to third on a Hanna Sommer single to the left center and scored on a wild pitch with one out. Another wild pitch led to the Wolfpack’s second run of the inning followed by Leah Jones hitting a solo home run to left field to put NC State up 11-0 after two.

Elon finally broke through on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Freshman Alaina Hall became the second Phoenix runner to reach base in the game on a walk. She was joined on the bases by Emily Cameron and Carleigh Nester, who also received free passes to load the bases. Fellow freshman Emily Roper recorded the first hit of the game for Elon as she lined a double to left center, driving in Hall and Cameron to plate the Phoenix’s first scores of the game. The Phoenix however could not add any more runs in the inning as NC State retired the next three batters to get out of the inning.

The Wolfpack added another run in the bottom of the fourth behind a Morgan Medford one-out solo home run to center. NC State threatened again in the inning and ended up loading the bases before converting a 5-2-3 double play to move to the top of the fifth.

Back-to-back home runs in the top of the fifth helped the Phoenix trim its deficit. Hall blasted her second home run of the year, a two-run shot to right field that scored Carey Million, who had reached earlier on a walk. Cameron followed with solo hit over the fence to left field, cutting the Phoenix’s deficit to seven, 12-5, after the top of the fifth.

NC State would add the final run of the game in the bottom half of the fifth to earn the 13-5 win.

The loss went to Elon starter Caitlin O’Shea (4-7), who was one of three pitchers that was used for the Phoenix. Alli Burdette was the third pitcher that entered the game for Elon and went 2.1 innings with a strikeout.

Roper had two of the Phoenix’s four hits on the day along with two RBI. Hall went 1-for-2 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored. Cameron had the lone other hit for Elon.

Elon returns home tomorrow to host North Carolina with the first pitch scheduled at 5:30 p.m. at Hunt Softball Park.

             1 2 3 4 5  R H E
   Elon      0 0 0 2 3  5 4 2
   NC State  8 3 0 1 1 13 9 1

Win – Mirabella (3-2)
Loss – O’Shea (4-7)
Save – None.

Umpires – HP: Robert Lett 1B: Dan Reilly 3B: Dallas Nolen
Start: 4:00 Time: 2:04 Attendance: 192