It took five series, but the Elon University softball team used dominant pitching and timely hitting to claim its first Southern Conference series win of the year with a 4-1 win over Western Carolina University on Sunday.
“We’re at the middle of conference play right now,” said Elon head coach Kathy Bocock. “We’re trying to peak at the right time, get our team moving in the right direction.”
A major way in which Elon moved in the right direction over the weekend was through pitching.
In Sunday’s contest, freshman Kayla Caruso held the visiting Catamounts to one run on only two hits, both of which came in the fourth inning. Caruso credited much of her success to having just dominated the Catamounts a day earlier.
“I knew what some of their weaknesses were,” she said. “I built upon yesterday.”
Unlike Saturday when Caruso retired the first nine batters she faced, a first inning error gave Western Carolina an opportunity.
“I wasn’t really worried about it,” Caruso said. “I just thought, 'just get back in it.'”
Elon gave Caruso an early lead courtesy of senior left fielder Tomeka Watson and junior center fielder Carleigh Nester. Watson led off the game with a double and scored on Nester’s RBI single two batters later. Nester scored on a wild pitch by Catamount freshman pitcher Mallory Broome.
“I wanted to make adjustments from the second game yesterday,” Watson said. “I warmed up the areas I didn’t feel I performed well at, and it really worked well for me.”
Watson also hit her first home run since March 24 in the second inning, a two-run, two-out shot.
“I didn’t think I was going to get any more (home runs),” Watson said. “I’m glad it happened and it feels good, maybe I’ll get a couple more now.”
Though Elon had opportunities to score again, Catamount sophomore relief pitcher Jordan Garrett shut out the Phoenix for the remainder of the game.
Caruso mowed down Western Carolina, striking out four batters and retiring the last 11 hitters she faced.
“Kayla’s got a nice pitch that throws everybody off a little bit,’ Bocock said. “She did a nice job of stepping up.”
Western Carolina had its best chance to reach base when sophomore second baseman Megan Crowe laced a ball to the gap in left center with one out in the fifth inning. Watson had other ideas, racing to her left and making a leaping grab to rob Crowe.
“We shifted over. We talked about covering the gaps,” Watson said. “Once I saw it up, I just went after it and made the catch.”
Bocock was more praiseworthy of Watson’s catch, calling it “guts and heart.”
Watson’s three hits led Elon. Sophomore designated player Grace Eng had two hits for the Phoenix.
Caruso’s win improved her personal record to 8-10 in the circle while the win improved Elon to 14-26 overall, 4-11 in the Southern Conference. Western Carolina falls to 16-30, 6-12 in SoCon play.
Elon will be back in action on Saturday April 20 with a doubleheader at Samford University. First pitch of 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:00 p.m. local, for game one.