The Elon University softball team could not keep up with Virginia Tech in a 14-2 loss March 11. Elon was coming off a weekend sweep against North Carolina A&T, but could not sustain its momentum against the Hokies, losing its 16th game of the season.
Virginia Tech consistently put pressure on Elon’s defense by getting on base 17 times. They drew seven walks, which played a significant role in their offensive production.
The Hokies came into the game nationally ranked at No. 11, better than any team Elon has faced this season at Hunt Softball Park. With senior pitcher Chana Wolfe searching for her first win, the Hokies loaded the bases in the first inning with no outs. However, she only surrendered two runs, which came off a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly.
Wolfe kept the Phoenix in the game with a scoreless second inning, but the Hokies blew the game open with a big third. After falling behind 4-0, Elon had a chance to get the third out, but sophomore shortstop Lani Wyrck lost her footing fielding the ball, which led to Virginia Tech’s third run of the inning. The Hokies then took advantage of the mistake with a double to go up 6-0.
Head coach Kathy Bocock said the lack of called strikes caused Elon’s pitchers to bring the ball over the plate more than they would’ve preferred.
“They adjusted to our pitchers,” Bocock said. “I felt like we were getting some strikes, and then we couldn't get them so we had to bring the ball closer over and then they started hitting the ball a little bit more.”
Elon’s hitters struggled to get runners in scoring position as they only managed to have one runner advance to second base through the first three innings. They came to life in the fourth inning with two runs — scored by some fresh faces
The first run came off a double from freshman Jenna Klein, which led freshman Emily Settle to score from second. Later, with redshirt freshman Brooke Camacho on third base, a wild pitch allowed her to cross home plate, giving Elon its second run.
Bocock said games against opponents like Virginia Tech are a great opportunity for some of the younger players to make a contribution. She said newcomers like Klein do a good job staying ready and waiting for their moment.
“Jenna did a great job there, and the team loves that kind of stuff,” Bocock said. “They were focused, ready to go in the game, and knew what they were doing. Those kinds of moments are what we’re needing from the whole team.”
That was all the offense the Phoenix would generate. However,, VT’s Addyson Fisher allowed just two runs in her first game of the season as a starter.
The Hokies padded their lead in the top of the sixth inning. After scoring off a walk, a fielder’s choice, and a sacrifice fly, senior Rachel Castine belted a three-run home run just inside the left foul pole to make the score 14-2. The game was mercy-ruled after Elon didn’t score in the bottom of the inning.
Bocock said that with lots of new faces on the team and not much time for practice, there’s going to be bumps early into the season. She said games against teams as good as Virginia Tech are opportunities to get better in the long run.
“These players come to Division I to play against the big schools,” Bocock said. “We're a young team and this year, probably out of all the years I've been here in a while, we haven't got to practice as much as we've had to play games. We're really using these games as practice for us.”
The Phoenix have Thursday off before hosting Tarleton State University at 5:30 p.m. March 13 at Hunt Softball Park.