ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team heads to Philadelphia for a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series against Drexel this weekend, April 8-9. The Phoenix and the Dragons open with a twin bill on Saturday at 11 a.m. followed by the series finale on Sunday beginning at noon at Drexel Softball Field.
Follow the Phoenix
Fans can keep up with the action of the Phoenix all season via live stats from the program’s schedule page at elonphoenix.com. Updates will also be provided on Twitter on @elonscores or the program’s handle, @ElonUSoftball. All three games of the series will be streamed online on Drexel’s athletic website, drexeldragons.com.
Inside the Series
The Phoenix and the Dragons have met six times on the softball diamond with all of those coming as league foes since Elon joined the CAA in 2015. The maroon and gold is a perfect 6-0 in the series and is making its second journey to the City of Brotherly Love. Last season, the Phoenix swept Drexel at home, outscoring the Dragons 32-13 in the three-game series at Hunt Softball Park.
Leading Off for Elon
• Elon is coming off a doubleheader sweep at Atlantic Coast Conference foe Virginia Tech on Wednesday, April 5. The victories were the first for the Phoenix against the Hokies and gives the maroon and gold thee victories against ACC schools this season.
• Rookie Kenna Quinn earned both victories in relief against the Hokies after holding Virginia tech with a 0.91 ERA and one earned run in 7.2 innings.
• Junior Kiandra Mitchum tied program’s all-time saves record with her sixth career save in the second game versus the Hokies. The Mechanicsville, Va., native currently shares the school-record mark with Jen Lamb (2003-04) and Caitlin O’Shea (2012-15).
• Emily Roper moved into the program’s top-five in career RBI after driving in three runs Wednesday against the Hokies. The senior now has 106 RBI over her career.
• Senior Alaina Hall is now one hit shy of tying Carleigh Nester (2011-14) for third all-time in school history in career hits. Hall belted three hits against the Hokies and has 220 for her career.
• Hall also hustled for her 13th career triple at Virginia Tech and is in sole possession of fifth in school history. Kara Shutt also had a triple, her 10th of her career, and is tied for eight all-time in school history.
• Phoenix head coach Kathy Bocock now sits with 149 career wins at Elon and 386 overall in her career.
Scouting the Phoenix
Elon goes into the weekend at 23-13 overall and looking to improve upon its 2-4 ledger so far in the CAA. Despite the slow start in league play, Elon has been in every game with three going into extra innings and each of the defeats being by no more than three runs. The Phoenix will also look to expand its current three-game win streak after its twin bill sweep at Virginia Tech.
On the year, Elon is batting .277 and is tied for the CAA-lead in triples with nine. The maroon and gold also ranks in the top-five in the league in runs scored (165), hits (259), RBI (143), doubles (42) and walks. Hall leads the league with her .417 average, the only player in the CAA hitting north of .400 among qualifying players. Her 48 hits are also tops in the league. Overall, three players are hitting .300 or better in the Phoenix’s regular lineup.
Elon’s pitching staff is third in the CAA with a 2.89 ERA. Mitchum is tied for the CAA-lead with three saves and is second in the league with her 116 strikeouts, 131.1 innings pitched and 12 victories. The Phoenix is also the only team in the league with two players, Mitchum and Quinn, that ranks in the CAA top-five in ERA as Quinn is fifth with her 2.55 ERA.
Scouting the Dragons
The Dragons were scheduled to face cross-town rival Villanova in a midweek contest before the game was canceled due to inclement weather. Drexel is 9-14 on the season and is 1-5 in CAA play. The Dragons earned its lone league win last Saturday, April 1, at home with a walk-off victory against Delaware.
Offensively, Drexel is batting .256 with 159 hits, 11 home runs, and 63 walks. Two players in the lineup are hitting above .300. Freshman infielder Linda Rush is hitting a team-high .368 in 22 starts with 25 hits, four homers and 17 RBIs. Sophomore catcher Taylor Lee is second on the squad with her .304 average and 14 RBI from the batter’s box.
In the circle, Drexel has posted a 3.71 ERA with 74 strikeouts compared to 71 walks in 147.0 innings of work. Opposing batters are hitting .285 against the Dragons’ pitching staff. Senior right-hander Tara Konopka leads the pitching staff with 10 starts. She has posted a 3.71 ERA and struck out a team-high 27 batters in 56.2 innings of work. She owns a 4-6 mark in the circle.
On Deck
Elon is returns home to host its final ACC opponent of the season as the Phoenix welcomes NC State to Hunt Softball Park next Wednesday, April 12. That game is slated for a 6 p.m. start.