Looking to bounce back from a weekend sweep at the hands of Georgia Southern University March 9-10, the Elon University softball team took the field for a doubleheader against the College of Charleston on Saturday afternoon, March 16, then again for a single game Sunday, March 17. Saturday’s action would turn out similar to the previous weekend, as the homestanding Charleston Cougars would take both games, 7-3 and 4-3. The Phoenix took the series finale from the Cougars with a 5-4 victory.

In game one, sophomore Chelsea White started in the circle for the Phoenix, but allowed a two-run home run to Cougar junior third baseman Kelsey Hodgson in the first inning, giving the Cougars the lead for good.

Elon was able to get on the board with an RBI double from junior third baseman Johanna Spencer in the fourth, only to have College of Charleston respond with five runs in the fifth. Senior right fielder Christy Giragosian’s grand slam tacked on the final four runs of the frame for the Cougars.

The Phoenix got two runs back in the sixth off of RBI singles from Spencer and sophomore first baseman Grace Eng, but it was too little too late. White took the loss, while sophomore Hope Klicker picked up the win for the Cougars.

Spencer joined sophomore right fielder Caitlin O’Shea and sophomore catcher Aly Quintana with two-hit games.

In game two, freshman Kayla Caruso returned to the circle for the first time since working 10.1 innings on March 9. Her teammates gave her support early on, with Elon leading 3-0 after three innings at bat. Freshman right fielder Emilie Rowand reached on an error in the second inning, scoring Spencer. Junior center fielder Carleigh Nester laced an RBI double in the third, and was followed by an RBI single from Spencer.

The Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the third courtesy of a home run, RBI single, and steal of home. The game would remain 3-3 until the bottom of the seventh inning.

Freshman Chandler Frisbie led off the seventh by reaching on an error, and advanced to third on a muffed sacrifice bunt and obstruction call. Enter a fellow freshman, left fielder Rebecca Mueller, whose single won the game for the Cougars. Caruso took the loss to drop to 4-5 on the season while senior Stephanie Saylors picked up the win.

Sunday’s game three proved to be the first conference victory of the season for the Phoenix. Caruso started in the circle again, and just like Saturday, got an early cushion. Quintana hit a 2-RBI double in the second frame to plate Nester and sophomore second baseman Lauren Oldham.

The Cougars jumped out to a 3-2 lead of their own on Hodgson’s second home run of the weekend, a two-run shot in the fifth, followed by an RBI single in the sixth by senior second baseman Ashton Jarrett.

The Phoenix did not give up, however, and tied the game up on an RBI single in the seventh by senior left fielder Tomeka Watson. Elon jumped ahead on an RBI fielder’s choice by Spencer, and Eng capped off the scoring with an RBI single of her own.

Elon brought in White to shut down the game in the seventh, and despite a run scoring, the Phoenix held on for a 5-4 win.

Nester, Watson, and freshman shortstop Emily Cameron had two-hit games, while White picked up the win to improve to 2-4.

Overall, Elon moved to 10-12, 1-5 in conference play with the Cougars now 13-10, 5-1 in conference. The Phoenix will be back in action on Wednesday, March 20 with a 4:30 p.m. game at North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C.