ELON, N.C. – A four-run bottom of the first inning aided the Elon University softball team to a 9-2 victory over Drexel on Sunday, March 27, as the Phoenix claimed the Colonial Athletic Association series with a sweep of the Dragons at Hunt Softball Park.
 
Elon (17-14, 3-0 CAA) won its sixth straight game overall against Drexel (14-13, 0-3), earning its second straight series win over the Dragons. The Phoenix was one of only two teams in the CAA that opened league play with a sweep along with 2016 preseason favorite James Madison.
 
The Rundown: The Phoenix capitalized on three Drexel errors in the bottom of the opening frame to plate four runs. After Emily Cameron drew a leadoff walk, she advanced to second on a stolen base and scored on a throwing error by the third baseman on Alaina Hall's at-bat. Hall moved over to third on Kara Shutt's double to left center before she herself scored a fielding error. A second throwing error led to another run coming across the plate before a bases loaded walk drawn by Erica Serafini gave Elon a 4-0 advantage after the first.

Drexel added a run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the second, but Elon got a run back in the home half. Hall drove a one-out triple to right center and scored off a wild pitch to put the maroon and gold up 5-1.
 
The Dragons again answered with a run in the top half of the fourth to trim Elon's lead. Jenelle Ladrido singled to right field that scored Kristin Uyesaka, who reached earlier on a fielder's choice. Kristin Hoover however threw out the following runner at home to close the frame.
 
Elon put the game out of reach with a three-run bottom of the fourth and another run in the fifth on a Cameron solo home run. That would set the final score as Elon closed out the weekend with the 9-2 victory.

HOME RUN!!!!! Emily Cameron knocks one out, and Elon is up 9-2! #ELONvDRX https://t.co/zfH6o0G6yH

— Elon Softball (@ElonUSoftball) March 27, 2016

At the Plate: Despite the win, Elon only had six hits in the contest while Drexel recorded 10…Hall and Shutt both had two to lead the Phoenix…Hall's triple was the fourth of the season for the Suwanee, Ga., native…Cameron homered for the second time in as many games and tied the team-lead with three runs with Hall…Cameron, Emily Roper, Jenna Reilly, Carey Million and Serafini each had a RBI in the game.
 
In the Circle:  Rookie Abby Barker (6-5) took the win in the circle as she tossed 4.0 innings and gave up six hits and one earned run…Elise Walton relieved Barker to start the fifth and had three scoreless innings with four hits given up and five strikeouts…Barker's win was her second of the series.
 
On Deck
The Phoenix hosts College of Charleston next weekend, April 2-3, in its second CAA series of the year. The series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 2, at 1 p.m.