With the start of the 2015 season for the Elon University softball team just a few days away, get a chance to learn more about each member of the team with a preseason series called "Seven Innings" as every student-athlete answers seven questions that makes them unique.

As the countdown towards the start of the 2015 season is only three days, today's feature focuses on freshman Kara Shutt in the final installment in the "Seven Innings" preseason series. An outfielder from nearby Greensboro, Shutt arrives from Southeast Guilford High School where she played under head coach Shannon Cowart. During her prep career, she was named conference Freshman of the Year and was selected as the Greensboro News and Record conference Player of the Year. She also earned All-Conference, All-Area, All-District and All-State accolades.

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1. How did you get into softball and how old were you at the time?
"When I was young, I never pictured myself playing softball. I thought it was too girly. I grew up playing baseball and I was always the only girl on the team and I loved it. When I turned 12, I decided that it was time for me to try playing softball and ever since then I have been in love with the sport."

2. Talk about your first semester as a collegiate softball player at Elon?
"My first semester as a collegiate softball player has been amazing. I have made so many new friends that I am also lucky enough to call my teammates. I enjoy getting to practice with them and also hang out with them on and off the field."

3. What has been the biggest adjustment from high school to college so far?
"The biggest adjustment for me has been managing my time wisely. In high school, academics came easy to me and I did not have to spend much time studying, but now I spend most of my time reviewing the material from each of my classes."

4. How much do you enjoy living and going school in Elon?
"I am so grateful that I get the opportunity to live and go to school here in Elon. The campus is so beautiful and I know I will end up with a good education as well."

5. Do you have any pregame routines or superstitions before or during the game?
"I do not have any pregame routines or superstitions, but I always have to chew gum during the game. And also during the game, if I put my helmet on first and then my batting gloves and end up getting a hit, I will do the same routine until it does not work anymore. Once it does not work, I will switch it up and try putting my batting gloves on and then my helmet. I know that the order really does not affect my outcome as a hitter, but it is just a silly superstitious thing that I do!"

6. Being from nearby, how excited are you to know that your family can attend the majority of your games?
"One of the reasons why I chose Elon was because of how close I am to home. I am so excited that my family and friends get to come and watch me play for the majority of my games. It really means a lot more to me knowing that I have people in the crowd rooting for me to be successful and I am so thankful that I have such supportive friends and family."

7. Why did you choose your number? 
"I chose the number three because in high school I was this number on the basketball team and since basketball was also one of my favorite sports and I am not continuing to play it, I thought I would keep the number."