ORLANDO, Fla. – The Elon University softball team fell to Syracuse, 3-2, in the Phoenix’s final contest at the Citrus Classic on Sunday morning, Feb. 26, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Elon (7-6) twice battled back to tie the game against the Orange (8-5) during the game, but a sacrifice fly by Syracuse’s Alicia Hansen in the bottom of the sixth made the difference in the contest. The Phoenix fell to 1-3 all-time versus the Orange as both programs met for the first time since the 2014 season.
At the Plate: The Phoenix had five hits overall in the contest and left five runners on base…Five different players plated a hit for the maroon and gold as Callie Horn, Carey Million, Erica Serafini, Kristin Hoover and Alaina Hall all went 1-for-3 in the game…Hoover and Million each had a RBI in the contest while Serafini added her fifth double of the season.
In the Circle: Kiandra Mitchum took the loss for the Phoenix as the junior fell to 3-3 on the year…Mitchum pitched 5.0 innings and allowed nine hits and three runs with six strikeouts…Kenna Quinn pitched an scoreless inning in relief of Mitchum.
The Rundown: Syracuse got on the board early in the bottom of the first. The Orange plated the first run of the game on a two-out RBI single into right center by Bryce Holmgren. Holmgren drove in Sammy Fernandez, who had reached earlier on a leadoff single as the Orange took a 1-0 lead.
The Phoenix escaped a bases loaded jam by Syracuse in the bottom of the third. With two outs, the Orange reached on back-to-back singles before loading the bases on an intentional walk. Elon was able to finagle out of the dilemma as Mitchum struck out the batter to end the frame.
In the top of the fifth, Elon moved into position to plate its first run of the game. Serafini led off the inning with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With one out, Hoover tied the game at one-all on a RBI single into left field for the Phoenix.
The Orange went back up in the home half of the inning. Syracuse connected on a couple of back-to-back singles with two outs before adding the go-ahead run on a single to right field to make the score 2-1.
Elon answered again in the top of the sixth to tie the contest. Million tied the game at 2-2 on a two-out RBI single into center field. The play scored Hannah Olson, who had reached earlier on a walk and moved into scoring position on a stolen base.
Syracuse scored once again to go in front in the bottom of the sixth. Hannah Dossett scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly into center field to put the Orange ahead 3-2 going to the seventh.
On Deck
Elon is back at home to host its first tournament of the season, the Elon Softball Tournament on March 3-5. The Phoenix kick off the tournament versus Wagner on Friday, March 3, at 2:30 p.m.