Less than a week ago, the Elon University softball team was in the midst of a tailspin. The Phoenix had lost nine in a row and couldn’t escape the rapid free fall it had entered.
But then, all of a sudden, the Phoenix stopped the bleeding and has now reeled off two straight wins, the latest a 7-3 victory over North Carolina A&T State University in a midweek nonconference game at Hunt Softball Park April 1.
The Phoenix, which had scored two or fewer runs in three of its last four games, hit a groove against the Aggies, whistling line drives and long blasts all over the park.
It began in the bottom of the first, as freshman designated player Emily Roper lofted a harmless fly ball to center with the bases loaded that was just deep enough for senior second baseman Lauren Oldham to score to put the Phoenix up 1-0.
After holding the Aggies scoreless in the top of the second, Elon stretched its lead to 2-0 on a long home run from junior pitcher Caitlin O’Shea that clanged off the scoreboard in straightaway center.
The Phoenix would strike again in the bottom of the third. With Roper standing on second after walking, junior third baseman Aly Quintana hit Elon’s second home run of the game, a two-run shot to left center to give the Phoenix a 4-0 led.
Two batters later, junior first baseman Grace Eng pounded a home run to left to stretch the lead to 5-0.
The Phoenix kept it going in the bottom of the fourth. After freshman right fielder Alaina Hall reached on an infield single, senior center fielder Carleigh Nester ripped a double down the left field line and off the wall, scoring Hall and giving the Phoenix a 6-0 lead.
The double moved Nester into a tie for the most doubles in program history, an honor she says will motivate her to continue to strive for greatness.
“It makes me want to work even harder,” Nester said. “It gives me a goal to work for. It’s an honor to tie the record but hopefully I’ll keep hitting doubles and hold the record at the end of the year.”
The next batter, Roper, slapped a hard ground ball into left, scoring Nester and making it 7-0 Elon.
The Aggies finally broke through in the top of the sixth on an infield single from senior first baseman Haley Snyder, scoring senior designated player Tiffany Macklin.
In the top of the seventh, faced with a six-run deficit in their last at-bats, the Aggies rallied to cut the Phoenix lead to 7-3.
With runners on second and third and no outs, junior left fielder Raven Smith singled up the middle, scoring both runners but getting thrown out trying to advance to second on Nester’s throw home.
After another single by sophomore shortstop Alejandra Barcenas, O’Shea retired the next two Aggies to preserve the victory.
O’Shea (5-8) was spectacular in a complete game seven-hitter, giving up three runs, two of which were earned, walking one and striking out three.
“Her focus was really good today,” Elon head coach Kathy Bocock said. “She got in a rhythm. She came out and got in a groove and was on top of her game.”
With the win, the Phoenix moves to 18-16-1 on the year, while the Aggies fall to 11-15. The victory marked the 300th of Bocock’s coaching career.
Elon will hit the road for a three game series with Southern Conference foe University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The first game of Saturday’s doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.