ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team scored a season-high in runs as the Phoenix exploded for a 12-4 victory over Towson in the Colonial Athletic Association series finale on Sunday, March 26, at Hunt Softball Park.
Elon (13-17, 7-2 CAA) earned its third straight series win in the rubber match over the Tigers (13-14, 4-5 CAA). The victory also gave the Phoenix a slight 14-13 edge in the all-time meetings versus Towson.
AT THE PLATE
• A day after being shutout for the fourth time this season, the Phoenix posted season highs in runs scored (12), hits (12), RBI (12) and doubles (four). The maroon and gold also tied its 2023 single-game best with a pair of home runs.
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Claudia Penny and
Kaitlyn Wells led the Phoenix at the plate with the pair both going 3-of-3. The duo combined for four homers, two doubles and 10 RBI with Penny's seven RBI being the most for the team since Danielle Lafferty did so against Furman on March 10, 2012. Both Penny and Wells were also a triple away from hitting the cycle.
• Wells added her second home run of the series and ended the weekend hitting a team-best .625 at the dish (5-of-8).
Carley Davis also recorded three hits for the Phoenix as the senior was 3-of-4 on the day with a double.
IN THE CIRCLE
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McKenna McCard earned the win in the circle for the Phoenix, improving to 3-3 on the year. The Ashburn, Ga., native pitched 4.0 innings in relief and gave up six hits and two runs.
THE RUNDOWN
• Looking to get off to a fast start, the Phoenix saw its first two batters reach in the bottom of the first.
Megan Grant and
Drew Menscer reached on a walk and a single, respectively, before the pair advanced into scoring position on a sac bunt. That set the stage for Penny, who took a couple of balls and a strike before sending a rope down the left field line that carried over the wall for her fourth home run of the season and an early 3-0 advantage.
• Elon kept the momentum going in the home half of the first. Davis followed with a double to left before she scored on a
Bella Devesa double down the left field line. Wells added the third double of the frame on a two-out hit down the left field line to plate Devesa and put the Phoenix ahead 5-0.
• Towson responded with a couple of runs in the top of the second to cut into the Phoenix's lead. The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs before scoring on an Ally Hickman two-RBI single to right center. McCard and the Phoenix were able to recover, inducing the next three outs to limit to damage.
• The Phoenix came back with a three-spot in the bottom of the second. Elon returned the favor by loading the bases with no outs with Penny coming to the plate. The Apex, N.C., native cleared the bases on a single into right to increase Elon's lead to six, 8-2.
• Wells led off the bottom of the third with her second round tripper of the season on a solo shot over the wall in right field. That pushed the Phoenix's advantage to 9-2 going to the fourth.
• Both Penny and Wells contributed to add two more runs for Elon in the bottom of the fourth. Penny drove in
Allee Seering for her seventh RBI on a double to right center. Penny herself would score on Wells' single up the middle to expand Elon's lead to nine, 11-2.
• The Tigers came back with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, but Elon closed out the game in the home half of the frame as Devesa drove in Seering on a sac fly to center, enabling the series victory with the 12-4 win via run rule.
ON DECK
Elon is back on the road next weekend, April 1-2, facing Hampton as the Phoenix and Pirates meet for the first time as CAA opponents.
-- ELON --
