Elon Softball Phoenix Earns Victory Over Pride in Series Finale, 5-2

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – A three-run top of the seventh inning helped the Elon University softball team to a 5-2 victory over Hofstra in a Colonial Athletic Association series finale on Sunday afternoon, April 19, at the Bill Edwards Softball Stadium.

The Phoenix (26-15, 8-7 CAA) outhit the Pride (25-11, 11-3 CAA) 11-7 after only registering six hits total in the first two games of the series on Saturday, April 18. Four players had multi-hit performances for the Phoenix with Alaina Hall (3-for-4, RBI), Emily Roper (2-for-3, RBI), Hannah Olson (2-for-4, double, two runs) and Carey Million (2-for-4, RBI) leading the way.

Kayla Caruso (9-4) earned the win in relief after pitching 4.0 innings and gave up five hits and one run with a strikeout. Kiandra Mitchum picked up her second save of the year with a scoreless seventh frame.

Taylor Pirone (11-10) received the loss for the Pride after pitching 6.2 innings, also in relief, and allowed eight hits and three runs on the day. Starter Morgan Lashley lasted only 0.1 innings after she allowed three hits and two runs.

The Rundown: Elon scored the first run of the game in the opening frame. Olson led off the contest with a double and scored behind a RBI single up the middle from Hall. Hall would then score on another RBI single to left off the bat of Aly Quintana to put the Phoenix up 2-0. Hofstra got a run back in the home half of the first on a sacrifice fly to cut its deficit to one, 2-1. The game was tied at 2-2 in the after a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth from the Pride heading into the seventh.

The Phoenix took control of the game in the top of the seventh as Olson and Hall scored on a one-out singles from Kara Shutt and Roper, respectively, to open the inning. A two-out RBI single from Million set the final score at 5-2 and handed the Pride only its third league loss of the year.

Inside the Box Score: Roper drew her CAA-leading 16th hit-by-pitch in the third…The Phoenix went 2-for-9 with two outs…The maroon and gold was also 5-for-13 (.385) with runners in scoring position…This was the 15th multi-hit game of the season for Hall which leads the team.

Coach Bo Says: “Hofstra is a great program and we have so much respect for them,” said Elon head coach Kathy Bocock. “Coming into the CAA, we knew about Hofstra and what they have been about. They are one of the top two teams in the conference and for our players to come in and beat them today was huge for us.”

On Deck: The Phoenix is back in action on Tuesday, April 21, with a single-game contest against Longwood at Hunt Softball Park. Game begins at 6 p.m.