ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team fell its Colonial Athletic Association home doubleheader on Saturday, April 1, versus UNCW in its home league opener. The Phoenix fell to the Seahawks in game one, 2-1, in 11 innings before suffering a 6-3 setback in the second game at Hunt Softball Park.
The Phoenix (20-13, 1-4 CAA) has now dropped four straight to the Seahawks (25-6-1, 5-0 CAA) dating back to last season and is now 15-5 on the season at Hunt Softball Park. Both squads will return to the field tomorrow, April 2, for the series finale beginning at 1 p.m.
Game One: UNCW 2, Elon 1 (11)
The Rundown: UNCW plated a run in the top of the opening frame. Merritt Wilkinson led off with a single through the left side and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Elon induced the next two outs, but a single to center field by Rachel Willis scored Wilkinson to give the Seahawks a 1-0 lead.
Elon had a chance in its home half of the first to plate some runs of its own. The Phoenix had its first three runners reach with no outs juicing the bases. However, UNCW finagled the final three outs due to a Phoenix base running miscue and a couple of putouts.
The Phoenix had runners reach scoring position in both the second and third frames. Kristin Hoover reached on a one-out double into right center and moved to third after a grounder, but she was left stranded after a grounder close the inning. Carey Million also got on after she doubled into right center with two outs, but she also would be left on the bags after a grounder.
Elon tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Kara Shutt opened with a single to center and moved to second on Million’s bunt single. The two moved into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt with Shutt crossing home plate on Callie Horn’s bunt single. After knotting the game at 1-1 with runners at the corners and one out, Elon could not bring in the go-ahead run to move the game to the seventh.
UNCW went ahead in the top of the 11th as Wilkinson led off with a solo home run to left center. That gave the Seahawks a 2-1 advantage before the Phoenix came up the plate in its home half of the frame.
Elon opened with back-to-back singles to start the inning that gave the Phoenix a pair on with no outs. The Seahawks were able to induce the next three outs however to close out the extra inning affair with a 2-1 victory.
At the Plate: Elon outhit the Seahawks 12-7, but left 13 runners on base…Million was 3-for-5 at the plate as was Hoover for the Phoenix while Shutt was 2-for-5…Horn drove in the lone RBI in the game for the Phoenix…Alaina Hall saw her 10-game hit streak come to an end.
In the Circle: Kiandra Mitchum was handed the tough loss for the Phoenix falling to 11-7…The lefty allowed seven hits, two runs and struckout a career-best 12 batters in the contest…The strikeout total gave Mitchum 111 on the season, becoming the first Elon pitcher with 100 or more strikeouts since 2012.
Game Two: UNCW 6, Elon 3
The Rundown: In the start of the second game, Elon quickly jumped out with a two-run advantage in the bottom of the first. Hannah Olson doubled to open the frame and advanced to third on a grounder. Shutt joined her on the bases after a she was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a stolen base. Olson crossed home plate on Million’s bunt single while Shutt followed plating a run off a wild pitch to give the Phoenix a 2-0 lead.
UNCW put up a three spot in the top of the fourth to take the lead. The Seahawks loaded the bases with no outs and crossed the dish on a walk for its first run. A sacrifice fly and a RBI on a grounder put UNCW ahead 3-2.
The Phoenix tied the game in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a RBI double from Hall. The senior drove a two-out line drive down the right field line to score Jenna Reilly, who walked to begin the inning and knotted the game at three-all.
UNCW took the lead for good with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning and added some insurance runs with a two-run round tripper in the top of the seventh to push its lead to three. Elon could not answer and fell in the nightcap, 6-3.
At the Plate: Elon had six hits in the second game compared to seven for UNCW…Shutt was 2-for-3 in the contest…Million and Hall had an RBI…Shutt also swiped three bases in the game.
In the Circle: Kenna Quinn fell to 6-4 on the season after taking the loss for the Phoenix…She pitched 5.0 innings and gave up five hits and four runs, three earned, with a strikeout…Mitchum pitched 2.0 innings in relief and gave up two hits and two runs.