Elon Softball Phoenix Sweeps CAA Twin Bill With College of Charleston

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team took both games in a Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader with College of Charleston on Saturday, April 2, as the Phoenix defeated the Cougars 5-1 in game one before hanging on to a 4-3 victory in the second game at Hunt Softball Park.

The wins improved the Phoenix to 19-14 overall and a 5-0 ledger in the early portion of the CAA season. CofC dropped to 22-14 and a 2-3 mark in league play. It’s the first 5-0 start in conference play for the Phoenix since the 2007 season and the first series win against the Cougars since the 2011 campaign.

Game One: Elon 5, CofC 1

The Rundown: Both teams opened the scoring of the first game in the third inning. A walk and a Phoenix throwing error advanced the Cougars’ Sara Garcia to second before a wild pitch moved her to third. After another batter was walked, Taylor Dupree’s sacrifice fly to right field drove her in for a 1-0 lead for CofC.

The Phoenix knotted the game in the home half of the third also thanks to some fielding miscues. Erica Serafini doubled to leadoff the inning and scored after a throwing error to first tied the game at 1-1.

Elon took control of the contest with a three-run bottom of the fourth. Hannah Olson opened the frame with a single and moved to second on a fielding error that left Carey Million safe at first. Serafini then belted her first career home run as the rookie crushed the ball down the left field line for a three-run blast as the Phoenix took a 4-1 lead.

Serafini added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. With runners at second and third with two outs, Elon struck out swinging, but the catcher was unable to corral the ball due to a wild pitch. The batter safely reached first while Serafini, who was on third, scored to push Elon’s lead to 5-1.

The Cougars were set down in order in the top of the seventh as Elon walked away with the 5-1 victory.

At the Plate: Elon had eight hits in the game with Serafini and Olson leading the way with two each…Serafini also had three RBI in the game, a double and scored three runs…The Phoenix left seven runners on base.

In the Circle: Elise Walton (7-2) received the complete-game victory in the circle as the Lawrenceville, Va., native held the Cougars’ lineup to one hit and one run, which was unearned…She also struck out two batters and walked three.

Game Two: Elon 4, CofC 3

The Rundown: Elon got out to a quicker start in the following game. In the bottom of the second, Million led off on a single to the shortstop and advanced all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt and a Serafini single. Callie Horn’s single to the shortstop led to her crossing home plate and putting the Phoenix ahead 1-0.

CofC battled back in the top half of the third to load the bases with one out after a pair of walks. Phoenix starter Kayla Caruso struck out the next two batters to escape the jam and keep the maroon and gold’s 1-0 lead intact.

Elon added a run in the bottom of the third. Kara Shutt singled to begin the inning and moved to third on a sac bunt by Olson. She would score on a grounder to second by Million that put the Phoenix up 2-0.

Two more runs scored for the Phoenix in the fourth. Emily Cameron’s double up to left center scored Serafini before another single by Olson added another run and a 4-0 advantage for the maroon and gold.

The Cougars answered with a two-out run in the top of the fifth by DuPree, who reached earlier in the inning on a triple to right. DuPree was able to cross home plate thanks to a RBI single up the middle by Kelly Sinclair that trimmed the Phoenix’s lead to 4-1.

CofC again loaded the bases in the top of the sixth. A pair of hits and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bags before a single up the middle by Katie Padilla cut the Phoenix’s lead in half, 4-2. The Phoenix made a pitching change, but another run was walked in and made the score 4-3 with no outs. Elon quickly recovered as the Phoenix converted on a double play on the next at bat before a fly out to second ended the threat.

The Phoenix was able to hold on in the seventh inning as the Phoenix completed the twin bill sweep with the 4-3 win.

At the Plate: Shutt went 3-for-3 in the game for the Phoenix who tallied 11 overall as a team…With a hit in the first game, Shutt improved her reached base streak to 17 games and her hit streak to seven…Cameron and Serafini had two hits in the contest…Elon is now 9-3 when tallying double-digit hits.

In the Circle: Caruso (4-4) received the win after the senior tossed 5.0 innings and gave up six hits and three runs while walking four and striking out three…Abby Barker relieved Caruso in the sixth and pitched 2.0 scoreless and hitless innings to earn her first career save.

On Deck: Elon and CofC close out the series tomorrow, April 3, with a single-game beginning at 1 p.m. It’s the Phoenix’s annual Pink Game as the program raises awareness for cancer by wearing its pink jerseys.