For perhaps the first time this season, the Elon University softball team must deal with a little adversity.
The Phoenix (17-7, 6-3 Southern Conference) lost two of its three games against Samford University last weekend and fell further behind the two teams ahead of them in the conference standings.
The three-game series was marred by a severe lack of hitting. Elon collected just three extra base hits in 86 at-bats and put up a paltry .323 on-base percentage.
“We struggled a little bit hitting,” said interim head coach Kathy Bocock. “That’s kind of taken us out a little bit but we’re going to work on it and we’re going to come back.”
The lack of hitting coincides with two key contributors missing time. Bocock didn’t provide comment on who was injured or what the severity of the injuries were, but junior catcher Camille Hill has been out of the lineup since March 17 and freshman second baseman Cyra Cottrell hasn’t played since leaving the first game of the Samford doubleheader March 24.
Those absences have meant increased playing time for sophomore utility player McKenzie Carter and freshman infielder Aly Quintana.
The results haven’t been stellar. While Hill leads the team in hitting and Cottrell has hit three home runs, Carter and Quintana have combined for just two hits in 19 at-bats.
Luckily for Elon, the schedule has gifted the Phoenix with a 10 day layoff to help cure the walking wounded. They don’t take the diamond again until an April 4 doubleheader against UNC-Charlotte.
“We’ve had some injuries a little bit,” Bocock said. “So some of the injuries have plagued us and (we’ve) had to make some adjustments, so hopefully this week will give us rest time for those injuries and everybody will back to where we need to be and get things back in order.”
Elon may need all the healing time it can get. After the two home games against UNC-Charlotte, the Phoenix travels to Chattanooga for a three-game set against the Mocs April 6-7.
The five-time defending regular season conference champions have power personified. Chattanooga (18-11, 4-0 SoCon) has hit 35 home runs this season, 11 more dingers than any other team in the SoCon.
The Mocs also lead the conference in batting average, slugging percentage, OBP, runs, hits, RBI and doubles. And they possess two of the best hitters in the country in Sara Poteat (.480 batting average) and Michelle Fuzzard (.447).
But before going back onto the diamond, the Phoenix must wait. Ten days to rest, sure, also, 10 days to think about a lost series. Ten days to determine to bounce back.
“These kids, they love to win.” Bocock said. “They’re fighters. They don’t want to accept losing.”