Elon Softball Preps For a Pair of Early-Week Games at Home

ELON, N.C. – After a week of being idle due to weather, the Elon University softball team returns to action this week as the Phoenix hosts two early-week games beginning on Tuesday, March 3, with a contest against Campbell at Hunt Softball Park at 4 p.m. Elon then welcomes NC State the following day, March 4, at 5 p.m.

Live Coverage
Fans can follow the Phoenix via live stats by going to the Elon softball schedule page at elonphoenix.com. Twitter updates will also be provided the handle @elonscores or @ElonUSoftball. Elon’s contest against the Camels on Tuesday will be streamed for free on the Phoenix All-Access channel.

Series Histories
Elon and Campbell are meeting for the 34th time in the series between the former Big South Conference foes. The Camels have the all-time advantage with a record of 24-8-1 over the Phoenix and has a current three game win streak.

The Phoenix and NC State have met 16 times prior to Wednesday’s contest as the Wolfpack holds a 10-6 lead in the series. NC State has won the last two contests including a 13-5 victory last year in Raleigh.

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?
The Phoenix has had some tough luck with winter weather during the early portion of its schedule. Elon’s slate of games last week were postponed or canceled due to heavy snow in the region. It is the second consecutive week that winter weather has affected the Phoenix’s schedule, as Elon had to cancel its opening home tournament, the Phoenix Opening Tournament, originally slated on Feb. 21-22.

Olson Named CAA Player of the Week
Freshman Hannah Olson was tabbed the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week last Tuesday, Feb. 24. Olson helped the Phoenix to a 4-0 record at the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla., after batting .545 (6-for-11) with three runs scored, a double and a pair of RBI. The Yorktown, Va., native closed out the tournament by going 3-for-3 with an RBI versus Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Virginia in the Phoenix’s 8-6 victory over the Cavaliers.

Scouting the Phoenix
Olson is one of only two players on the Phoenix batting more than .300 on the year as she leads the team with a .406 average. Fellow rookie Kara Shutt is also north of .300 with a .333 average. Olson also paces the squad in runs (10), total hits (13) and stolen bases (four).

Emily Roper had a pair of home runs last Sunday, Feb. 22, and is the only player who has connected on the long ball so far this season. She also paces the team in RBI with nine and is one of seven players with at least two RBI.

The Phoenix pitching staff stepped up big in Florida, posting a total ERA of 1.50 from its five-person staff. Junior Kayla Caruso led the way with a 2-0 record and a 1.24 ERA (0.00 ERA as a starter) in her 11.0 innings of action and has a 3-0 record on the year, matching her win total from last year’s injury-plagued campaign.

Three players also notched a save during the Phoenix’s four games in Florida. Senior Chelsea White and freshman Kiandra Mitchum both tallied their first career save while fellow senior Caitlin O’Shea picked the fourth of her career. The milestone placed O’Shea in a tie for third all-time in school history just one shy of older sister Erin O’Shea (2009-12), who sits in second with five.

Scouting Campbell (9-5)
The Camels are 9-5 on the season after earning a pair of wins on Sunday, March 1, at the Dolphin Classic in Jacksonville, Fla. Campbell went undefeated at the tournament after picking up victories against Abilene Christian (twice), Cleveland State and Savannah State.

Campbell was picked to finish third overall in the Big South Preseason poll in 2015, after finishing the 2014 season 31-27. Head coach Todd Bradley is in his first year at the helm of the Camels program.

The team is hitting .308 with four of its everyday players batting more than .300. Ericka Nesbitt leads the way with a .436 average along with six stolen bases. The top run producer has been Chandler Patterson with her team-highs in homers (five) and RBI (23).

Three players have taken turns toeing the rubber this season for Campbell, who have posted an overall ERA of 3.30. Julia Callicutt has seen the most time in the circle with 42.2 innings and a record of 3-1 and a 3.12 ERA. Katie Baker leads the team in wins with a 5-1 mark and ERA (1.47) in her 33.1 innings of action.

Scouting NC State (7-6)
The Wolfpack have also been a victim of the weather with all of their games last week cancelled. NC State last played on the weekend of Feb. 20-22, at the Georgia Southern Eagle Classic in Statesboro, Ga., as the Wolfpack went 4-0 against Eastern Kentucky and Dayton.

NC State was chosen to finish third in the 2015 ACC Preseason after coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014. This year, the Wolfpack is hitting only .238 on the young season with three players batting .300 or better. Molly Hutchinson paces NC State’s offense with her .410 average as well as her four home runs and nine RBI.

Two players, Courtney Mirabella and Emily Weiman, have seen the most time in the circle with Weiman going 4-4 with an ERA of 3.27 in her 51.1 innings. Mirabella leads the team in ERA at 1.95 with a record of 3-2 in 32.1 innings. Overall as a team, NC State has an ERA of 2.80.

On Deck
Elon quickly returns to the field for its third straight contest on Thursday, March 5, at N.C. A&T. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in Greensboro, N.C.