The Elon University softball team opened the Elon Softball Tournament Friday, March 6 against Lafayette University. Fighting cold weather, the Phoenix completed the shut out in five innings securing a win in the team's first game.
Freshman Kiandra Mitchum started on the mound for the third consecutive game for the Phoenix. Though allowing no runs, the start wasn’t the best for the normally sound freshman.
Mitchum only threw two and two thirds innings. She hit two batters, walked another and only recorded one strikeout. Senior Caitlin O’Shea relieved Mitchum. O’Shea threw one and a third innings and got four outs only facing five batters. Senior Eve Clausen pitched the final inning.
“You have to get right out there and get in the zone as soon as you step on the field,” O’Shea said, “You have to do what you can.”
The offense didn’t let the cold weather affect their bats as it produced nine hits. Sophomore Carey Million led the charge with two hits and three rbi on the day. After an RBI single from sophomore Emily Roper, Million complemented with one of her own, giving the Phoenix a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Elon was right back at it.
Back to back singles from junior Emily Cameron and Million combined for three runs across. A few batters later senior Aly Quintana drove the first ball out of Hunt Park for the season that added two more. The Phoenix would add one more in the inning giving it an 8-0 advantage.
“I had a different attitude going into the box," Million said. "I needed to fix something so that’s what I went to. I’ve been seeing the ball well I just wasn’t pulling the trigger.”
The win was the team's first for the Elon Softball Tournament out of four total games, and also its seventh consecutive.
“These girls want to win and they understand we have to work hard every game,” Coach Bocock said, “The potential is there and they’ve got a great thing going within themselves to keep going.”
It is not long before Elon will be tested again, it returns to Hunt Park Saturday, March 7 when it faces Central Connecticut State University at 12:45 pm and Lafayette at 3 pm.