ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team will play its first true road contest of the season as the Phoenix travels to in-state rival Charlotte for a single-game contest on Wednesday, March 11. First pitch is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at the Phillips Softball Complex.
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. The game will also be streamed through Charlotte’s athletic website at charlottle49ers.com via a paid subscription.
Series History
The Phoenix and the 49ers will meet for the 29th time in a series that has dated back to 1998. Charlotte has a 17-11 all-time lead in the series and has won the past two games and six out of the last seven. Elon’s most recent win against the 49ers came in 2013 in Charlotte.
Last Time Out
The Phoenix hosted its home tournament, the Elon Softball Tournament, last weekend, March 6-8. Elon went 3-1 in its four games against the field of Central Connecticut State, Hampton and Lafayette. In its finale versus the Lady Pirates on Sunday, March 8, Elon pulled out a 4-3 victory in extras thanks to a sacrifice fly RBI by freshman Hannah Olson in the bottom of the ninth.
Scouting the Phoenix
Elon currently sits in third in the Colonial Athletic Association in team ERA at 2.73 and is second in shutouts with four. The Phoenix also leads the league in saves with six, which is already a single-season high in school history just 17 games in the year.
The pitching staff fueled the Phoenix 5-1 record last week as the unit posted a total ERA of 0.65 with opponents hitting only .222. All five players used had an ERA less than two and four fewer than one. Freshman Kiandra Mitchum is tied for the CAA-lead in wins with six on the year.
The Phoenix had a down week hitting offensively, batting only .243 and has an average of .254 on the season. Only two players are hitting north of .300 in Olson (.388) and Emily Cameron (.306). Cameron also leads the team in RBI with 10 along with Emily Roper. Roper also has two of the Phoenix’s three homers this season.
Scouting Charlotte (10-8)
The 49ers are 10-8 on the season after splitting its games at the Carolina Classic last weekend in Chapel Hill, N.C. Selected to finish eighth in the 2015 Conference USA Preseason poll, Charlotte returns seven starters from its team from a year ago including 2015 Preseason All-C-USA picks in pitcher Lexi Betancourt and catcher Jackie Kleinsmith. Head coach Aimee DeVos is in her 21st season at the helm of the 49er softball program.
Charlotte is hitting .274 on the year while holding opponents to a .245 average. Two players are hitting .300 or better for the 49ers in Haley Pace (.321) and Chelsea Lisikatos (.314) while Lisikatos also leads the team in homers with four. Betancourt has an ERA of 3.36 in her 73 innings of action in the circle and has a record of 5-7 on the year.
On Deck
Elon hosts North Carolina Central on Friday, March 13, at Hunt Softball Park. That game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. opening pitch.