ORLANDO, Fla. – The Elon University softball team held No. 1 Florida to its lowest run total on the year, but was unable to come out on top against the Gators as the Phoenix fell, 3-1, in its second game of the evening at the Citrus Classic on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
The Phoenix (4-5) piled the most hits allowed by the Gators (10-0) all season with seven including junior Alaina Hall’s 3-for-3 performance. She also had a double and scored the lone run of the game for the maroon and gold on Emily Roper’s RBI in the top of the sixth. Jenna Reilly also went 2-for-3 at the plate for Elon.
Sophomore Kiandra Mitchum (0-1) threw a complete game while taking the loss in the circle. The Hanover, Va., native went 6.0 innings with nine hits and three runs, two earned, allowed against the two-time defending NCAA national champions.
The Rundown: Elon was aggressive early on with Hall reaching on a one-out single in the top of the first. A couple of wild pitches moved her over to third with two outs, but she was tagged out on her attempt to steal home to end the inning.
Florida threatened in the bottom half of the frame as Amanda Lorenz reached on a two-out double and moved to third on a stolen base. Taylor Fuller followed with a lining shot towards right center between Hall and right fielder Callie Horn, but Horn made the great diving grab to close out the inning.
The Gators added its first run in the bottom half of the second on a Phoenix miscue. Kayli Kvistad led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on grounder to the pitcher. She then advanced to third on a passed ball before crossing home plate on Taylor Schwarz’s single to give the early 1-0 advantage.
Florida added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. The Gators hit back-to-back two-out singles before being driven in on another single, this time by Lorenz to make the score 3-0.
Elon answered with a run in the top of the sixth. Hall reached on a one-out single to right and moved to second after a wild pitch. Roper’s two-out RBI single to left field drove her in and gave Elon the tying run at the plate, but Florida struck out the next batter to end the inning.
The Phoenix tried to answer again in the top of the seventh. Pinch hitter Ashtyn Foddrell placed a one-out single to right field and again put the tying run for Elon at the plate. The Gators induced the final two outs to escape with the 3-1 victory.
Notes of Interest: Elon scored only the fourth run allowed all season against the Gators…The loss was Elon’s fifth of the year and its fourth to a top-15 ranked opponent from the SEC…Counting senior Kayla Caruso’s complete game in the Phoenix’s earlier game versus Omaha, it’s the first time that Elon pitchers have thrown complete games in doubleheaders since 2014.
On Deck
The Phoenix ends its stay at the Citrus Classic tomorrow, Feb. 21, with a contest versus Jacksonville State at 10 a.m.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Elon 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 7 1
Florida 0 1 2 0 0 0 X 3 9 0
Win – Barnhill (3-0).
Loss – Mitchum, K. (0-1).
Save – Ocasio (1).
Umpires – HP: Kevin Gramig 1B: Keirh Pereira 3B: Brian Freeland
Start: 3:30 pm
Time: 5:22 pm
Attendance: 608