ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team picked up a 14-4 victory over longtime Triad rival North Carolina A&T on Wednesday evening, Feb. 17, in the Phoenix's 2016 home opener at Hunt Softball Park.
 
Elon (3-2) earned its third run-rule victory of the season while handing the Aggies (4-1) its first defeat of the 2016 campaign. It was also the Phoenix's third win of the year while plating double-digit runs in the contest.
 
The Phoenix piled 14 hits on the day versus the Aggies with Carey Million (3-for-4), Erica Serafini (3-for-4) and Kara Shutt (3-for-4) leading the way. Sophomore Kristin Hoover had a team-best five RBI on the day on a 2-for-3 performance and a home run while Serafini and Shutt had three and two RBI, respectively. Alaina Hall also homered for the maroon and gold.

Senior Kayla Caruso (3-2) picked up the win for Elon in the circle after going three innings with four runs allowed on four hits while striking out a team-best three batters. Kiandra Mitchum and Abby Barker combined for three scoreless frames in relief.
 
The Rundown: North Carolina A&T's Alejandra Barcenas led off the game with a single to left field and advanced to second on a grounder on the following at bat. She would plate the first run of the contest after Mohagony Headen doubled to left to put the Aggies up early 1-0 after the top of the first.

That lead didn't last long as the Phoenix answered with five runs in the bottom half. After Jenna Reilly and Hall both drew walks to open the inning, the pair was driven in by Shutt's double to left. Shutt herself would cross home plate on Emily Roper's single to left before a triple by Million added another score. The Aggies made a change in the circle with Zadaisha Waddell relieving Headen, but Serafini's RBI single to the shortstop gave the Phoenix a 5-1 lead after one.

Both teams went scoreless in the second, but North Carolina A&T was able to get a little momentum going in the top of the third. Raven Gray hit a two-out double to center field, scoring Janika May who reached earlier in the inning on a walk. A two-run home run by Waddell brought the Aggies within one, 5-4, before a fly out ended the inning.
 
Waddell retired the next five batters she faced before Hall responded with a solo two-out home run in the bottom of the fourth to give Elon a two-run lead at 6-4. In the bottom of the fifth, an RBI double by Serafini and a RBI single by Hoover aided the Phoenix's three-run inning that gave the Phoenix a 9-4 cushion after five.

Elon would add five more runs in the bottom of the sixth including Hoover's walk-off grand slam that set the final score of 14-4.
 
Inside the Box Score: This is the third time in five games that Shutt has had three hits…She is the only Phoenix player with a hit in every contest this season…Shutt's two doubles were one off from tying Carleigh Nester's (2011-14) team and NCAA single-game record of three she set back 2013 at Appalachian State…Hoover's five RBI were a career-high for the Tampa, Fla., native…In its three wins, Elon has scored a total of 46 runs while giving up only seven…The maroon and gold has also tallied 44 hits in its wins while hitting better than .450 in each contest.

Notes of Interest: Hall homered for the second time this season after going homerless all of last year…Hoover's grand slam was the first for a Phoenix player since Nester belted one versus Towson in 2014.
 
On Deck
The maroon and gold travels to Orlando, Fla., this weekend for the Citrus Classic on Feb. 19-21. Elon faces five teams in the tournament including No. 13 Missouri and two-time defending NCAA Tournament champion No. 1 Florida.