Looking to improve upon an 8-5 record, the Elon University softball team traveled south down Interstate 85 for a nonconference doubleheader against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Wednesday, March 7. The visiting Phoenix picked up win No. 9 in the first game, 5-2, but dropped game two to the host 49ers, 8-0.
Freshman pitcher Kayla Caruso got the start in game one, her seventh of the season. Caruso responded with her fifth straight complete game, allowing a pair of unearned runs on six hits while striking out three. Caruso faced 28 batters, only seven over the minimum 21 for a regulation game. With the win, her record improves to 4-3 on the 2013 season.
Caruso was assisted by her offensive-minded teammates, who scored four runs in the fourth inning. Junior left fielder Lauren Oldham led off with a single, followed by senior catcher Camille Hill being hit by a pitch. Senior center fielder Tomeka Watson promptly laced a double to score Oldham and put the Phoenix on the board. Sophomore first baseman Grace Eng reached on an error to score Hill, and two more runs came across when freshman second baseman Emily Cameron singled.
Elon added one more run in the seventh on an RBI single by sophomore right fielder Amanda Allen. Despite two unearned runs in the bottom of the frame for the 49ers, the Phoenix held on for the win.
Hill and Cameron had two-hit efforts for the Phoenix in game one, with Cameron also knocking in two RBI.
In game two, sophomore pitcher Eve Clausen allowed five runs in three innings before being lifted for junior Karen Berna, who allowed three more before the game was stopped due to the mercy rule.
Elon mustered only five hits, which went to Watson, Eng, Cameron, Oldham and junior third baseman Johanna Spencer.
Elon and Charlotte leave the day with matching 9-6 overall marks.
Elon returns home to open Southern Conference play against Georgia Southern University this weekend with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 10, starting at 1 p.m.