The Elon University softball team dropped its first Southern Conference game of the season 4-3 in a 10-inning marathon to Western Carolina University on a walk-off error Friday night in Cullowhee, N.C.
After two and a half scoreless extra innings, the Catamounts walked off with the win in the bottom of the 10th.
Sophomore third baseman Taylor Sigmon, who was the designated runner on second that each team begins every extra inning with, advanced to third on a wild pitch from Phoenix junior reliever Caitlin O’Shea.
O’Shea then intentionally walked the next two Catamounts hitters to load the bases, but battled back by striking out second baseman Makenzi McAteer.
But the next batter, redshirt freshman first baseman Brook Coggins, pounded a grounder to Phoenix junior first baseman Grace Eng, who couldn’t handle it, allowing Sigmon to score and hand the Phoenix its seventh loss of the season.
The Catamounts jumped on Elon junior starter Chelsea White right away, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first to take control of the game.
After a two-out walk to freshman catcher Kara Salvo and back-to-back singles from Sigmon and freshman designated player Courtney Buchanan, sophomore center fielder Amber Kimrey singled up the middle to score Salvo and Sigmon.
The Phoenix battled back with a run in the top of the second and two more in the third.
With runners on first and third and two outs, senior second baseman Lauren Oldham ripped a single into right, scoring freshman designated player Emily Roper and cut the Catamounts lead to 2-1.
In the top half of the third, Elon senior centerfielder Carleigh Nester hit two-run home run over the wall in center to put the Phoenix up 3-2.
But the Catamounts battled back to knot the game at three in the bottom of the fifth.
After a walk to sophomore shortstop Karley Harkey, freshman left fielder Courtney Price reached on what she had intended to be a sacrifice bunt but turned into a single when Oldham threw the ball away, allowing Harkey to advance to third.
Salvo then lofted a fly ball to right that was deep enough to score Harkey and set up the Catamounts’ theatrics five innings later.
With the loss, the Phoenix drops to 15-7-1, and 0-1 in conference play, while the Catamounts improve to 10-14 overall, 1-0 in the Southern Conference.
White struggled on this day, going just 2/3 of an inning and giving up two runs on three hits, walking one and striking out a batter.
The Phoenix will conclude its three game series with a doubleheader against the Catamounts Saturday, March 15. The first game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.