ELON, N.C. – Every Monday, Phoenix fans can get a look at the week ahead with our “Elon Athletics Weekly Update” feature when we will preview all the week’s upcoming events for our sports teams. “Follow us” on Twitter at @elonphoenix and @elonscores, “Like” Elon Phoenix on Facebook and continue to check elonphoenix.com to stay current on all things Elon Athletics.
SAAC Food Drive
All Elon home events, Saturday, April 9 – Friday, April 15
• The Elon Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is hosting a food drive as part of the Colonial Athletic Association Food Drive Challenge from April 9 – April 15. All food items and gifts collected will go to Allied Churches of Alamance County.
• SAAC members will be on hand at all home events during the seven-day span to collect nonperishable food items and monetary donations. Bins will also be placed in Koury Athletic Center and Alumni Field House for donations at any time throughout the week.
• Visit elonphoenix.com/fooddrive for more information, a list of athletic events and multiple ways to donate.
Baseball (10-17, 2-6)
Elon vs. East Carolina, Tuesday, April 5, at 6:30 p.m., Latham Park
Elon at North Carolina A&T, Wednesday, April 6, at 6 p.m., Greensboro, N.C.
Elon at Northeastern, Friday – Sunday, April 8 – 10, at 3/1/12 p.m., Brookline, Mass.
• The Phoenix snapped College of Charleston’s six-game winning streak on Friday by defeating the Cougars 9-6 in game one of a CAA series. The Phoenix rallied and scored four runs in the eighth inning to pull out the victory.
• At one point this weekend, 10 consecutive Elon runs were scored with two outs.
• Elon will play four of its five games away from home this week. The Phoenix will look to sweep the home-and-home season series with East Carolina on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. at Latham Park before hitting the road for a game at North Carolina A&T and a CAA series at Northeastern.
Men’s Golf
Not in competition this week
• The Phoenix improved two spots on the final day of the Clemson Invitational, finishing in seventh place with a three-round total of 897 (+33). Elon’s third-round mark of 291 was the second-lowest round of any team.
• Troy Beaver paced the Phoenix in the final round with a 2-under-par round of 70, the best round of any Phoenix in the event. The senior finished in a tie for 15th at 220 (+4).
• Elon closes out the regular season in Raleigh, N.C., at the Wolfpack Spring Open at Lonnie Poole Golf Club.
Men’s Tennis (14-4)
Elon vs. College of Charleston, Wednesday, April 6, 3 p.m., Jimmy Powell Tennis Center
Elon vs. Furman, Sunday, April 10, 1 p.m., Jimmy Powell Tennis Center
• The Phoenix finished 2-0 last week with wins against UNCG and No. 62 William & Mary at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
• Felipe Sarrasague clinched Elon’s victory over William & Mary with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 win against the Tribe’s Christian Cargill. Sarrasague improved to 11-5 in singles play with his seventh straight victory and is now 9-1 overall in his last 10 singles matches.
• Sunday’s match against Furman at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center will be part of SAAC’s food drive to collect nonperishable food items and monetary donations for Allied Churches of Alamance County.
Softball (19-15, 5-1)
Elon at NC State, Wednesday, April 6, at 6 p.m., Raleigh, N.C.
Elon vs. Hofstra, Saturday – Sunday, April 9 – 10, at 1/3/1 p.m., Hunt Softball Park
• The Phoenix takes a step outside of conference play for a midweek road game at in-state rival NC State on Wednesday. Elon then hosts Colonial Athletic Association foe Hofstra for the first time at Hunt Softball Park in the upcoming weekend beginning with a twin bill on Saturday at 1 p.m.
• Elon improved to 5-1 in CAA play last week after taking two out of three in its series against College of Charleston. It’s the maroon and gold’s best start in league play since the 2012 season when Elon also opened conference play at 5-1 through six games.
• Sophomore Kara Shutt was named the CAA Player of the Week for the second time this season last Monday and the third time overall in her career. The Greensboro, N.C., native batted a team-best .563 (9-for-16) the previous week with seven runs scored, a pair of doubles, a triple and a home run. She also had a pair of RBI and drew four walks.
Women’s Golf
Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate, Sunday – Monday, April 3 – 4, Mimosa Hills Golf Club, Morganton, N.C.
• Elon is off to a solid start at the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate and is tied for fourth place after a first-round total of 308 (+20).
• Kelsey Badmaev, who is coming off individual titles at the MSU Spring Citrus Challenge and the John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate, continued her consistent play by opening with a 3-over-par round of 75.
• After finishing tied for 11th at the John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate last week, Emily Brooks is once again in contention, as the senior shot 75 and is tied for fifth.
Women’s Lacrosse (7-3)
Elon vs. Delaware, Friday, April 8, at 6 p.m., Rudd Field
Elon vs. Towson, Sunday, April 10, at 12 p.m., Rudd Field
• Elon returns to action this weekend when the team opens Colonial Athletic Association play against Delaware and Towson at Rudd Field.
• The Phoenix last played on Tuesday, March 22, closing out its non-conference schedule with a 12-8 win at High Point to claim its second straight victory.
• Sloane Kessler led the Phoenix with six points in the game after three goals and three assists along with four ground balls. Shelby Scanlin also tallied three scores, all assisted by Kessler, and had a game-high five draw controls.
Women’s Tennis (10-9)
Elon at. East Carolina, Friday, April 8, 2:30 p.m., Geenville, N.C.
Elon vs. South Carolina State, Saturday, April 9, 1 p.m., Jimmy Powell Tennis Center
• The Phoenix completed a perfect 3-0 week with wins against CAA foes Delaware, James Madison and Towson to add to its five-match winning streak.
• Olivia Lucas has been playing well and is currently on a six-match winning streak in singles play. She also went 2-1 in doubles play last week with Suzanne Zenoni. Erica Braschi continues to roll in singles action and is currently on a nine-match winning streak.
• Following Friday’s match at East Carolina, the Phoenix returns home for Senior Day on Saturday against South Carolina State at 1 p.m. The match at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center will be part of SAAC’s food drive to collect nonperishable food items and monetary donations for Allied Churches of Alamance County.
Women’s Track and Field
Elon at Lou Onesty/Milton G. Abramson Invitational, Saturday, April 9, Charlottesville, Va.
• Elon heads to the University of Virginia for the Lou Onesty/Milton G. Abramson Invitational on Saturday, its fourth outdoor meet of the season.
• The Phoenix competed at the VertKlasse Meeting at High Point University this past weekend. Elon had several of its performers set new personal and school records at the meet, including sophomore Bryanna Hames in the discus throw. The Charlotte, N.C., native had a heave of 164’ 11” (50.27m), winning the event and breaking her own school record in the process.
• Senior Jen Esposito was honored as the CAA Track Athlete of the Week on Tuesday for her performance at the prestigious Raleigh Relays the previous weekend. The Mansfield, Mass., native won the 400-meter hurdles race with a time of 58.01 – the only time in the race under the one-minute mark – and beat out notable competitors from Duke and Nike. She also helped the Elon’s 4×400-meter relay team to the fastest time in the CAA with a 3:48.05 at the meet.