EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T tried to erase an enormous deficit but could not quite get there as Elon held on for an 8-5 win Wednesday evening at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex.
Elon (2-0) held an 8-1 lead by scoring at least one run in each of the first four innings, including a four-run third inning. But the Aggies rallied.
The Aggies comeback efforts began in the fourth. Senior Stephanie Williams started the inning with a double to left center field. An error allowed junior Jocelyn Bennett to reach and advance Williams to third.
After sophomore Moriah Terry pinch ran for Bennett, freshman Kayla Taylor doubled to right center field to drive home Williams and advance Terry to third. Junior Desttany Parker was hit-by-a-pitch to load the bases with no outs.
Freshman Kendall Macauley reached on a fielder's choice as Taylor was called out on runner interference.
Sophomore Jai Deese walked to force in a run as Terry scored to cut Elon's lead to 8-3. Sophomore Latianna Langley then stepped up and hit a shot back up the middle as the ball ricocheted off the pitcher for a base hit. Parker scored to cut Elon's lead to four.
After Elon went with Kenna Quinn in the circle, Quinn hit freshman Alyxx Estrada with a pitch to force in another run; this time, it was Macauley as the Elon lead became 8-5. A line drive to first and diving tag to the first base bag by Elon first baseman Keegan Goldwait to double up Estrada ended the inning.
A&T could not mount another credible rally from there as the Aggies went down in order in the seventh to drop to 0-5 on the season. The Phoenix improved to 2-0. Quinn (2-0) got the win, and senior Bayleigh Kirby (0-3) recorded the loss.
Estrada led the Aggies by going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Deese, Williams and freshman and Macauley each recorded a hit and scored a run. Deese, Langley and Taylor each recorded an RBI.
In the circle, freshman Kiara Richards pitched three shutout innings and gave up only three hits.
Elon opened the scoring in the first after four straight walks led to a run before Kirby struck out Goldwait to end the inning.
The Aggies battled back and tied the game at 1 in the bottom half of the inning. Deese reached on a hit-by-pitch and eventually stole second with one out. Estrada singled and advanced to second after the throw to home plate to throw out Deese did not arrive in time. A groundout advanced Estrada to third, but another groundout ended the inning.
Elon scored another run in the top of the second inning before their big four-run third increased their lead to 6-1. The Phoenix added to the lead with two runs in the top of the fourth inning after an RBI single to right field, and an RBI single to center field gave them their 8-1 lead.
Mekayla Frazier led Elon by going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI.
The Aggies host UNC Greensboro with a doubleheader Friday starting at noon at LASC.
