The final game for the six seniors on the Elon University softball team — left fielder Carleigh Nester, shortstop Ali Ford, right fielder Lauren Oldham, designated player Johanna Spencer, outfielder Amanda Allen and the injured Karen Berna — could not have been scripted any better.
The game began with a moving ceremony in which each of the players were recognized for their contributions to the team, and ended with a walk-off fielder’s choice in the bottom of the ninth to give the Phoenix a 3-2 win over Samford University on Sunday, April 27.
“We told the seniors that as big a game as it was for them (personally) being senior day, it was as important that we got the win and took the series,” Bocock said. “It was great that we were able to win and send off the seniors that way.”
It was difficult to focus on the game after the emotionally charged pre-game ceremony, Oldham said, but the Phoenix had no choice. It was important that they win the rubber match with the Bulldogs and seize momentum heading toward postseason play.
“We were all really focused, we weren’t going to give another game away at home, especially in our last home game,” Oldham said. “We weren’t going out with a loss.”
Elon freshman starter Alli Burdette struggled early, giving up a run in the top of the first on a double just inside the left field line from sophomore designated player Caroline Wilder to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second, the Bulldogs added another on a line drive double to the wall in right center from sophomore center fielder Megan Dowdy, which scored sophomore catcher Hannah Taylor.
Burdette settled down from there and shut the Bulldogs out over the next four innings before being replaced by junior reliever Caitlin O’Shea (8-13), who kept Samford off the board in the seventh, eighth and ninth.
The Phoenix knotted the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third on Nester’s towering two-run home run to left center, the 35th of her career, breaking the program record for career home runs.
Both teams were kept off the board until the bottom of the ninth inning.
Junior designated player Grace Eng led off the inning with a sharp ground-ball single through the middle. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a ground ball to second, sophomore second baseman Emily Cameron was walked, setting the stage for freshman center fielder Alaina Hall.
Hall hit the second pitch of the at-bat on the ground to junior shortstop Abby Adams, who, after fielding the ball, tried to beat Cameron to second to get the force. Cameron, though, was too fast for her, and was called safe, allowing Eng to score the winning run from third.
“It was an amazing way to win,” Nester said. “When the (umpire) called Emily (Cameron) safe at second, I threw my bat up in the air and jumped into the celebration. It was a great way to end my last home game.”
Sophomore hurler Mollie Hanson, the Bulldogs ace, was the tough-luck loser despite going eight and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs on seven hits, walking five and striking out eight.
The Phoenix will close the season with a weekend series against the University of North Carolina at Greensboro May 3 and 4 in Greensboro. The first game of a Saturday doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m.