ELON, N.C. – Despite building a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Elon University softball team could not hang on to its advantage an suffered a 2-1 setback at the hands of College of Charleston on Sunday, April 3, in the Phoenix’s Colonial Athletic Association series finale against the Cougars at Hunt Softball Park.
The blemish was the first of the year for the Phoenix (19-15, 5-1 CAA) during league play this season and only the third time overall at home in 18 games. CofC improved to 23-13 with the victory and an even 3-3 in the CAA standings.
At the Plate: The Cougars outhit the Phoenix in the game, 6-5, as Elon had five different players tally a base hit…Emily Roper had Elon’s lone RBI of the game in the third inning while Emily Cameron, Kara Shutt and Kristin Hoover each drew a walk…Shutt extended her reached base streak to 18 games and her hitting streak to eight.
In the Circle: Phoenix starter Elise Walton (7-3) took the loss after pitching 4.0 innings and giving up five hits and a pair of runs with a strikeout…Abby Barker pitched the remaining 3.0 innings in relief and allowed only one hit with a strikeout.
The Rundown: Elon opened the scoring in the contest in the bottom of the third inning. Callie Horn led off on a single to left field and moved to second on Cameron’s sacrifice bunt. A grounder advanced her to third before Roper’s two-out single to the second baseman allowed her to cross home plate, giving Elon a 1-0 lead.
The Cougars responded in the top half of the fourth with its two runs of the game. Jordin Jones singled into left field to score a run and advanced to second on the throw. After a grounder to the pitcher moved Jones to third with two outs, Madison Brown’s single up the middle provided the Cougars with the go-ahead run, 2-1, before the end of the inning.
The Phoenix had another chance to either tie or retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and a runner at first, Shutt singled into right field and advanced to second on the throw to give the Phoenix runners in scoring position. Roper then drew a hit-by-pitch to load the bases for Elon, but a fly out to center on the next at bat killed the momentum.
CofC allowed only one more base runner on for the Phoenix as the Cougars held on with the 2-1 victory.
On Deck
Elon heads to NC State for a single-game on Wednesday, April 6, in Raleigh, N.C. That contest is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.