Elon Edges Charleston, 4-3; Will Face Campbell on Friday
Dylan Smith
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BUIES CREEK, N.C. – No. 2 Elon (30-18) emerged victorious with a 4-3 victory over No. 3 Charleston (31-24) inside Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.
The top three batters in the Phoenix’s lineup -
Greta Hessenthaler,
Allee Seering and
Kaitlyn Wells – all drove in one run in the win. The bottom three batters –
Mary Moss Wirt,
Regan Hartley and
Lani Wyrick – were all driven in the previous.
A collaborative effort also trickled into the circle as Elon starter
McKenna McCard tossed four innings and allowed just one earned run on three hits to secure her 13
th win of the season. Relievers
Taylor Cherry and
Anna Dew combined for three innings with just three hits and one earned run allowed.
A pitcher’s duel ensued to open the contest as Elon’s McCard and Charleston’s
Ryley Kutter both worked a pair of scoreless frames. The Cougars broke through in the top of the third with
Austy Miller lining an RBI double past a diving Elon centerfielder to take a 1-0 lead. Miller finished with a 2-for-4 showing at the dish with two RBIs.
The Phoenix quickly responded in the bottom of the third following a leadoff single from
Lani Wyrick. Two batters later, Wells blooped an RBI single over the second baseman’s head to bring the freshman shortstop around to score and tie the game at one.
Elon tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Back-to-back one-out singles from Wirt and Hartley were followed up by an RBI single from Hessenthaler to take a 2-1 lead. Four pitches later, Seering drove in a run on a fielder’s choice down the third-base line, with the throw unable to get Wirt at the plate.
Mackenzie Cannon slashed the Charleston deficit in half with a solo blast to left, bringing the Cougars within one, 3-2, in the top of the fifth.
Elon doubled its lead once again after loading the bases on three straight walks with one out. The Cougars nearly got out of the inning unscathed, but Phoenix pinch hitter
Kayla Wilson drew a fourth base on balls with two outs to bring
Chloe Hatzopoulos around to score for a 4-2 lead.
Charleston did not go down easily as the Cougars put the tying run at the dish following a one-out single from second baseman
Karlee Hughes and Cannon working a 10-pitch walk. The Cougars loaded the bases on
Jay Wrightsman’s sacrifice bunt attempt, seeing her reach safely on an error. Miller drove in Charleston’s final run on a groundout to second before falling by one.
Elon will return to action on Friday, squaring off with No. 4 seed Campbell at 12 p.m. from Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.
Wednesday, May 7
Game 1:
No. 4 Campbell 13, No. 5 Stony Brook 7
Game 2:
No. 3 Charleston 5, No. 6 Hofstra 2
Game 3:
No. 6 Hofstra 7, No. 5 Stony Brook 2
Thursday, May 8
Game 4:
No. 4 Campbell 3, No. 1 Delaware 2 (9 inn.)
Game 5:
No. 2 Elon 4, No. 3 Charleston 3
Game 6: No. 3 Charleston vs. No. 6 Hofstra - 6 p.m.
Friday, May 9
Game 7: No. 2 Elon vs. No. 4 Campbell - 12 p.m.
Game 8: Winner of Game 6 vs. No. 1 Delaware - 2:30 p.m.
Game 9: Winner of Game 8 vs. Loser of Game 7 - 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 10
Game 10: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 - 12 p.m.
Game 11: If Necessary - 2:30 p.m.
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