ELON, NC – A late-inning surge by the Elon Phoenix helped the Phoenix complete a three-game Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) sweep of the North Carolina A&T softball team on Sunday, 11-3, at Hunt Softball Park.
After A&T starter Sharla Kirkpatrick (L, 2-6) shut down the Phoenix over the first two innings, Elon broke through in the third with three runs. A&T responded in the fourth with a leadoff home run from senior second baseman Alyxx Estrada. After not having a home run in her excellent career before this season, Estrada has hit two before April.
Elon took a 4-1 lead in the fifth on a throwing error, but the Aggies made it competitive in the sixth. Estrada's infield single got the rally started, as she advanced to second on a throwing error and to third on a wild pitch. A&T added a base runner when sophomore shortstop Makayla Layton walked. The Aggies loaded the bases when Elon starter McKenna McCard (W, 3-3) hit graduate Brenay Howard with a 1-2 pitch.
Meredith Wells replaced McCard in the circle to face freshman Jamari Moss. Wells forced in a run when she hit Moss with a 0-1 pitch as Estrada scored to cut the deficit to 4-2. After junior Joey Barkhimer popped out, the excitement started.
Pinch-hitter Kayla Taylor hit a ground ball to third. Layton was forced out trying to go home, but a throwing error by Elon catcher Carley Davis allowed Howard to score to bring the Aggies to within one, 4-3. With runners still on second and third, the Aggies loaded the bases again on a walk to freshman Destiny Sims. But freshman Trinity Glover hit into a force play to end the threat.
A big seventh inning by the Phoenix turned a competitive game into a game that ended early. A two-run single by Ella Roberson contributed, giving Elon a 6-3 lead. A three-run RBI double by Allee Seering gave Elon a 10-3 advantage. When Megan Grant singled through the right side, scoring Seering to enact the collegiate softball run-rule of leading by eight after 4 ½ innings.
Estrada led the Aggies by going 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. A&T will continue conference play with a three-game series at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex against the Delaware Blue Hens, March 15-17.
