ELON, North Carolina – Sophomore
Carey Million (Hun School of Princeton/Robeling, N.J.) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning of the second game as Elon secured the third seed in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship by sweeping a doubleheader over UNCW in the regular season finale for both teams at Hunt Softball Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Phoenix, which improved to 30-20 overall and 11-10 in the CAA, earned a 6-3 victory over the Seahawks in the resumption of the suspended game from Friday before rallying to claim a 4-3 triumph in the regularly scheduled game. UNCW finished the season with a 19-27 overall record, including a 5-16 mark in the CAA.
Million, who went 3-for-6 in the doubleheader, gave Elon its fourth straight victory when she hit her fifth home run of the season off sophomore
Peyton Jordan (Marvin Ridge H.S./Waxhaw, N.C.) with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Sophomore
Alaina Hall (North Gwinnett H.S./Suwanee, Ga.) also collected three hits in the doubleheader for the Phoenix, which collected 17 hits in the two games.
Junior
Kayla Caruso (Harrison H.S./Kennesaw, Ga.) earned both wins in the circle for Elon. After throwing five innings in the first game, she earned the win in relief in the second game after allowing just one hit in two innings.
Jordan suffered both losses in the doubleheader for UNCW. She threw three innings in the first game and allowed four runs on six hits before giving up the game-winning run in relief in the nightcap.
Freshman
Sarah Davis (Walter Williams H.S./Burlington, N.C.) led the Seahawks by going 3-for-7 in the doubleheader while sophomore
Nella Chamblee (Corinth Holders H.S./Wendell, N.C.) and senior
Jessica Rappe (Butler H.S./Charlotte, N.C.) each drove in a pair of runs.
How It Happened – Game 1: The Phoenix jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning before the game was suspended on Friday night due to rain. When play resumed, Elon added two more runs in the third inning before scoring a single run in the fourth inning for a 5-0 advantage. An RBI single by freshman
Anna DeVane (Harrells Christian H.S./Elizabethtown, N.C.) plated the Seahawks' first run in the fifth inning before Elon added a run in the sixth inning for a 6-1 lead. UNCW trimmed the deficit to 6-3 in the seventh inning on a two-run fielder's choice by Rappe, but the Seahawks were unable to get any closer.
How It Happened – Game 2: After the Seahawks built a 3-0 lead in the first three innings, the Phoenix used a pair of home runs to come back for a 4-3 victory. Senior
Aly Quintana (Gulliver Prep/Miami, Fla.) forced extra innings when she blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning before Million hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning for the walk-off victory. Â
Inside the Box Scores: Elon was 8-for-18 with runners on base in the first game … The Phoenix was also 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position … The teams combined to hit just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position in the second game and combined to leave 16 runners on base.
Notes: Sophomore
Lauren Moore had a streak of reaching base in eight consecutive games snapped after going 0-for-3 in the first game … Elon reached the 30-win mark for the 11th time in program history while keeping the Seahawks from reaching 20 wins for the first time since 2006 … All four of the Phoenix's home runs in the series either tied the game or gave Elon the lead … UNCW finished the season with a four-game losing streak … Rappe,
Casey Rowland (Colonie Central H.S./Albany, N.Y.) and
Kristen Jernigan (South Johnston H.S./Benson, N.C.) played the final games of their college career for UNCW on Saturday … Elon will face second-seeded Hofstra in the opening round of the CAA Tournament, which will begin on Wednesday at James Madison.
