As the rest of the team walked back toward the home dugout to collect their gear after a discouraging 4-3 loss to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Elon University softball head coach Kathy Bocock shouted at her pitchers to come have a separate meeting with her.
When the entire staff had crowded around her, Bocock began imploring each of them to continue to work hard at their craft. She knew they could perform better than they had against Charlotte, they just seemed to need a prod to get there.
“We have a young staff and we’re just encouraging them and telling them to keep working hard at it,” Bocock said. “We’re going to go back to the drawing board and we’re going to become the best pitching staff around.”
Freshman Alli Burdette was given the nod in the circle for the Phoenix and struggled from the outset, surrendering two runs in the first and being charged with two more in the third after being yanked by Bocock without recording an out.
“Alli is young and she’s working through some things,” Bocock said. “She’s just got to keep adjusting to these hitters.”
The 49ers jumped on Burdette immediately. After a leadoff walk to junior shortstop Natalie Capone, Burdette was able to retire the next two Charlotte batters and appeared to find her control.
But the next batter, 49ers sophomore center fielder Jessica Plemmons, hit a rocket to right that cleared the fence by several feet to give her team an early two run lead.
Two innings later, Capone led off with an infield single up the middle, followed by a line drive single from junior second baseman Samantha Slade to put the first two batters on for the 49ers with no outs.
Sensing a pitching change needed to be made, Bocock brought in reliable reliever Caitlin O’Shea, who was greeted by junior catcher Jackie Kleinsmith, who lined a double into right center to score both Capone and Slade and double the 49ers lead to four.
The Phoenix was dominated by junior starter Lexi Betancourt, who surrendered just two singles in the first four innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, Elon was finally able to break through. With runners on first and second, senior center fielder Carleigh Nester deposited Betancourt’s 2-1 pitch over the left field wall to pull Elon within one.
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It didn’t change the outcome of the game, but Nester admits the homer gave her some much-needed confidence after simplifying her approach at the plate after her slow start.
“I’ve been struggling a little bit in the box,” Nester said. “I haven’t been hitting too hot, so my mindset for the past couple of games has been go in the box and shoot for a base hit. I’m just going in looking for base hits. If home runs happen, then that’s awesome.”
That was as close as the Phoenix could get, though, as Betancourt clamped down in the game’s final two innings to preserve the 49ers’ fifth win of the season.
“She kept us guessing,” Nester said. “We should’ve been able to adjust to her a little sooner, but for some reason we couldn’t pick up some of her pitches.”
Betancourt (5-1) picked up the win, going the distance and giving up three runs on six hits, walking four and striking out nine.
Burdette (2-1) takes the loss, going two innings and giving up four runs on four hits, walking one and not striking out a batter.
The loss drops the Phoenix to 8-5-1 on the year, while Charlotte evens its record at 5-5.
Elon will return to Hunt Softball Park this Saturday, March 1, where the Phoenix will welcome Coppin State University in the first of a doubleheader as part of the Elon Phoenix Tournament. The game is slated for a 12:15 p.m. start. The Phoenix will then play Presbyterian College at the conclusion of that game.