ELON, N.C. – Great performances from sophomore Alaina Hall and its pitching staff helped lift the Elon University softball team to a 6-1 victory over North Carolina Central on Friday, March 13, at Hunt Softball Park.

Hall went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and a triple as the Phoenix improved to 13-6 on the year. Fellow sophomore Alli Burdette (1-1) was given the win in relief after going 2.2 innings and allowed only two hits with no runs and a strikeout. Burdette was one of four pitchers that the Phoenix used on the day that gave up only four hits total to the Eagles (7-7).

Another sophomore Carey Million went 2-for-2 at the plate with a double while Kara Shutt also drove in a run after going 2-for-4. Elon starter Kiandra Mitchum went 3.0 innings with two hits and one run, unearned, allowed.

Elon scored first in the bottom of the opening frame to take a 1-0 lead. Hall hit a one-out single to left field and moved to second on another single by Shutt. An error by the third basemen advanced her to third before scoring on a wild pitch.

NCCU responded in the top half of the second to tie the game. An Elon miscue on a throwing error advanced a runner from second to third with one out before sacrifice fly to left brought in the tying run to knot the game at 1-1.

The Phoenix answered right back with three runs of its own in the bottom of the second to retake the lead. Million led off the frame with a double and was joined on the bases by Aly Quintana, who drew a walk. The pair moved to scoring position after a sacrifice bunt by Katie Rufo. After Madison Kadlic loaded the bases on another walk, Elon scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Hannah Olson to go up 2-1. Hall followed with a triple to left field to send in two more runs and gave Elon a 4-1 advantage.

Mitchum and Burdette retired the next 10 batters they faced to keep the score at bay until sixth inning. NCCU threatened with a pair of runners on first and second with two outs, but Caitlin O'Shea, who came on in relief of Burdette earlier in the frame, induced the final out on a grounder.

Elon added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the inning. Hall added her third RBI on a one-out single to the shortstop, scoring Rufo, who had reached earlier on a single. The play also moved Kadlic, who doubled earlier in the frame, to third base before she would also cross home plate on a single to center by Shutt to make the score 6-1.
 
Senior Chelsea White came on to pitch for the Phoenix in the top of the seventh and proceeded to set down the Eagles in order to close out the contest.
 
The Phoenix takes a short drive down I-40 to face former conference foe UNCG on Sunday, March 15. That game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.