WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Freshman
Hunter Bizzell registered three hits and stole two bases as UNCW split a Colonial Athletic Association softball doubleheader against Elon to close out the weekend series at Boseman Field on Sunday afternoon.
The Seahawks, who move to 12-21 overall and 2-7 in the CAA, rallied for a 5-4 victory in the second game after dropping the opener by a 4-0 margin. Elon stands at 20-18 overall and 4-5 in the CAA.
Bizzell went 3-for-3 in the second game as UNCW overcame a 4-1 deficit by scoring four times in the bottom of the seventh inning en route to the victory.
Five other players notched a pair of hits in the twinbill for the Seahawks, including junior
Lacey Fox, who also added a pair of runs batted in. Senior
Kelsey Bryan went 2-for-5 at the plate with a run scored and three stolen bases.
Junior
Haley Lenderman earned the win in relief in the nightcap, allowing one earned run on three hits over 2.0 innings.
Senior Kara Shutt paced the Phoenix in the doubleheader by going 6-for-8 with three doubles, three runs scored and three RBI. Freshman Ally Repko added five hits with two RBI while freshman Katrina Martin was 4-for-6 with a double and a run scored.
How It Happened – Game 1: Elon scored a run in each of the first innings to build a 4-0 lead the Phoenix did not relinquish. Shutt was responsible for three of the runs, scoring a run in the first inning before driving in a run during the second and fourth frames.
How It Happened – Game 2: Trailing by a 4-1 margin heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, UNCW scored four runs on five hits to secure the victory. Sophomore
Dominique Travers and freshman
Anna Knox hit back-to-back RBI doubles to right center to narrow the gap to 4-3. After Fox brought home the tying run with a single up the middle, junior
Hannah Adamczyk brought home Bryan with a fielder's choice for the winning run as senior Hannah Olson's throw to the plate was wide.
Notes: UNCW is now 5-3 in the last eight outings against Elon … The Seahawks also improve to 3-4 in one-run games this season … The victory in the nightcap marked the first time this year UNCW won when trailing after six innings … Bizzell registered the first multi-hit game of her college career in the nightcap … Knox, who finished the weekend going 3-for-9 with three runs scored, has reached base safely in six consecutive games … Fox has a streak of five straight games of reaching base safely after a 3-for-10 showing this weekend with two RBI … The Seahawks were 9-for-12 in stolen base attempts this year, upping their season total to 48 steals in 64 tries … Shutt paced Elon this weekend by going 8-for-12 with four runs scored, three doubles, a triple and three RBI … The Seahawks held their annual Alumni Day and Military Appreciation Day during Sunday's doubleheader.
Up Next: UNCW completes its eight-game homestand on Tuesday, Apr. 10, by welcoming Coastal Carolina to Boseman Field for a 6 p.m. contest.
