The Elon University softball team split the last two games of a three game set with Furman University Sunday, March 30 at Hunt Softball Park. The Phoenix lost the first game, 4-2, but rallied to win the second of the day’s doubleheader, 5-4, to salvage a game and avoid a Paladins sweep.
In the first game, the Phoenix jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on freshman left fielder Alaina Hall’s third home run of the season, this one a solo shot to right center.
The Paladins quickly responded, scratching out a run in the top of the first to knot the game at 1-1. Sophomore left fielder Ambree Muller reached on an error, advanced to second on a single and stole third. Two batters later, junior pitcher/right fielder Lauren Collier dropped down a perfectly executed squeeze bunt to score Muller.
Elon would retake the lead the in the bottom of the third on senior center fielder Carleigh Nester’s bases loaded walk, which scored senior second baseman Lauren Oldham from third and gave the Phoenix a 2-1 lead.
But the Paladins took control of the game in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs on two singles to provide the winning margin, 4-2.
Phoenix junior starter Caitlin O’Shea (4-8) was saddled with the loss despite going seven strong innings and surrendering four runs on six hits, walking four and striking out two.
In the second game, the Phoenix withstood a Paladins rally in the top of the seventh, their last at-bats, to hold on for a 5-4 victory.
In the top of the first, with Furman runners on second and third, Elon freshman starter Alli Burdette uncorked a wild pitch, allowing junior center fielder Nikki Legg to score and give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Paladins sophomore third baseman Natalie Clemmons pounded a long fly ball down the left field line that snuck just inside the foul pole to stretch Furman’s led to 2-0.
The Phoenix, though, knotted the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the second on freshman catcher Emily Roper’s two-run home run to straightaway center. Roper added another two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth, this one a sky-scraping blast to left, to give the Phoenix a 5-2 lead.
Furman rallied in the top of the seventh, cutting Elon’s lead to one, 5-4, on a home run to left from junior catcher Hannah Pace. Burdette, though, would rally to get the next two Paladins hitters and preserve her team’s victory.
Burdette (3-1) was given the win, going seven innings and surrendering four runs on five hits, walking one and striking out five.
The split moves the Phoenix to 17-16-1 overall, 2-7 in Southern Conference play, while the Paladins improve to 16-17 overall, 4-4 in the SoCon.
The Phoenix will end its homestand with a midweek matchup against North Carolina A&T State University April 1 at Hunt Park. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.