ELON, N.C. – A walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh by junior Emily Roper helped prevail the Elon University softball team to a 6-5 victory over Charlotte on Wednesday, March 16, at Hunt Softball Park.
The Phoenix improved to 13-11 with its second straight walk-off win and its first victory over its in-state rivals the 49ers (16-8) since 2013. The feat also improved the Phoenix to a 9-2 overall mark at home this season.
The game-winning single was the second hit of the day for Roper, who finished the contest with a 2-for-3 performance with a run scored and a walk. Kara Shutt also had a pair of hits with two RBI and a run scored while Ashtyn Foddrell also drove in two runs.
Kiandra Mitchum (1-3) received the win after entering in the top of the seventh to induce the final out. Starter Elise Walton went 4.1 innings with seven hits, three runs, two earned, allowed while striking out three. Abby Barker also pitched in relief for the Phoenix, going 2.1 innings with three hits and two runs allowed.
The Rundown: Charlotte opened the game with a run in the top of the first off the bat of Grace Beatty. Haley Pace reached on a two-out double to left center before Beatty singled through the left side to plate the first run of the contest and give the 49ers a 1-0 lead.
Elon tied it in the bottom half on a similar play. Erica Serafini blasted a one-out double down the left field line and scored thanks to an RBI single through the right side by Shutt to tie the game at 1-1. The Phoenix tried to plate the go-ahead on Roper’s single to left field on the next at bat, but the runner was thrown out at home. Elon then fouled out to end the inning, but with the game tied at 1-1.
A Phoenix throwing error aided the 49ers to retake the lead in the top of the third. Emma Ocker opened the frame with a single to left field and moved to third after an errant throw to first after a popup. A sacrifice fly to left field by Beatty drove in Ocker and made the score 2-1 Charlotte.
The Phoenix responded with three runs in the home half of the third. Serafini drew a two-out walk and advanced to second on a single by Shutt to the shortstop. After a walk loaded the bases, Foddrell drove a single to left, scoring Serafini and Shutt, while another run crossed home plate due to a fielding error on the catcher. That made the score 4-2 and gave the Phoenix the advantage.
Another throwing error on Elon helped the 49ers get a run back in the top of the fourth. Pace drove a two-out single to right field that brought in Kiersten Berrier, who singled earlier in the frame, and cut the Phoenix’s lead to 4-3.
In the top of the seventh, Charlotte tied the game on a one-out solo home run to left center by Meredith Harris. The 49ers then jumped in front thanks to an RBI double from Bailey Rhoney that put the maroon and gold in a 5-4 deficit going to the bottom half.
Elon began its rally with a leadoff single from Alaina Hall to center and added another base runner on another single by Hannah Olson. The pair moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt before Shutt’s sac fly plated Hall to tie the game at 5-5. That set the stage for Roper’s walk-off hit to center, scoring Olson and giving the Phoenix a 6-5 victory.
Notes of Interest: Elon had 10 hits in the game and improved 8-3 when having double-digit hits…Roper extended her reached base streak to 13 games while Shutt extended her current hit streak to eight contests…The contest was also Shutt’s 10th multi-hit game of the season…Elon is now 12-18 all-time versus Charlotte.
On Deck
Elon plays at the UNCG Blue and Gold Challenge beginning tomorrow, March 17. The Phoenix opens the tournament versus Northern Illinois at 7 p.m.