The Elon University softball team started off its year 0-2 after losing to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers on Friday 2-5 and 3-6, respectfully, in the two games.
The first game on the diamond began evenly. Tied at one at the start of the fourth inning, freshman first baseman Katrina Martin hit a solo home run into left field to put the Phoenix up 2-1.
“We’ve got a couple good freshman in our lineup,” seven year veteran head coach Kathy Bocock said. “We are excited for them.”
After a 49er run tied the game again, a Charlotte RBI double and a couple of wild pitches from Elon closing pitcher Kenna Quinn allowed two runners to score, the 49ers were able to put away the Phoenix by a 2-5 margin.
“[UNC Charlotte] is a good team,” Bocock said. “We knew going into the game that we had to play really well.”
After a twenty minute break, the Phoenix settled in for the second game of the double header. Elon was feeling a little more confident, eager to take control early. By the third inning they did just that, taking a 3-1 lead. Charlotte began to take control late in the game with two RBI singles in the top of the fifth and sixth innings.
The game concluded with three Elon batters walking up to the plate, and the same three walking back to the dugout after two groundouts and a strikeout. The players spirits remain high and the team is looking to fix the mistakes they made. Both Bocock and senior short stop Hannah Olson agreed that mistakes were big in both the games.
“Everyone made a mistake today at some point,” Olson said. “We just have to deal with that and move forward.”
She believes the team should not be counted out so early in the year in the year.
“We have a lot of potential and a lot of good talent this year, Olson said. “This is the beginning of the year and games, we definitely have room to improve by the time conference comes around.”
Elon will be back in action tomorrow at 1 p.m., hosting North Carolina Central at Hunt Softball Park.