On Saturday, Feb. 7, the Elon University softball team took the field at Hunt Park to take on the University of South Carolina Upstate in the first game of a doubleheader. The Phoenix defeated the Spartans 4-3.

In her first start as a Phoenix, freshman pitcher Kiandra Mitchum didn’t need any relief. In her complete game Mitchum, gave up three runs on six hits, only throwing 73 pitches.

When asked how she felt taking the mound in her first college game, Mitchum claimed that some pre-game jitters were present.

“I was a little nervous before the game, but after the first inning I relaxed.” She said.

The first inning was an offensive battle for both teams. In the top of the inning, USC Upstate’s Karla Beasley stepped to plate with a solo homerun, putting the Spartans on top.

Elon quickly answered back as freshman infielder Hannah Olson beat out an infield single to start the rally. Olson would steal second and then score on an error by the Spartans. Four batters later, sophomore Emily Cameron doubled, driving across the second and third runs for the Phoenix. Cameron would be stranded on base to end the inning.

“[The double] gave us the momentum and was really what we needed in the game.” Cameron said.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Olson would single and steal second base again. She would then advance to third on an error. Sophomore catcher Emily Roper then roped a single to left-center, driving in Olson. Elon led 4-1.

The Spartans first two batters manufactured two hits putting runners on second and third base with no outs. Senior first baseman Cheyenne Griffin then drove the runners in on a single, cutting the lead to one with two outs in the inning. Mitchum struck out the next batter leaving the tying run on base. The Spartans would not be able to score in the seventh inning as well.

The Phoenix displayed a team effort in its first win of the season. The team is young, ten of eighteen members of the team are of sophomore standing or younger. Although there is room for improvement from its season opener, the Phoenix is extremely motivated, which was clear by its play.

“We are young, and hopefully every game they just keep working on getting better and better,” Coach Bocock said. “And if everybody’s in the right places we’ll keep things happening.”

Following the game, Elon played Radford University for the second game of the doubleheader.