Mount Pleasant, S.C. – Sydney Shipley tossed a five-hitter and was backed by three straight doubles in the second as the College of Charleston clinched its opening Colonial Athletic Conference series of the season with a 2-1 win over Elon on Sunday at Patriots Point.

Shipley struck out two and walked only one in her first complete game and fifth win of the season. She allowed the only Phoenix run in the first and stranded four runners in scoring position to help the Cougars improve to 17-12 overall and 2-1 in the CAA.

Kiandra Mitchum worked her second complete game of the series for Elon (19-11, 1-2) and also gave up five hits in taking the loss.

Kara Shutt gave Elon a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI double before the Cougars struck back with their trio of two-base hits the following inning. Lexee Emanuel got it started with a leadoff shot to the gap in left center, and Sara Garcia and Katie Padilla followed with RBI two-baggers to left to put CofC in front.

The double for Padilla was her team-leading eighth of the season, and Emanuel and Garcia both picked up their sixth.

Mitchum surrendered only one hit the rest of the way – an infield single by Yari Felix in the sixth – but Shipley and the CofC defense, which included a running, back-to-the-plate catch by third baseman Taylor DuPree to end a 1-2-3 seventh, was enough to allow the Cougars to hang on.

CofC is back in action Wednesday at Patriots Point with a 5:00 doubleheader against Charleston Southern. The Cougars return to CAA play next weekend in Harrisonburg, Va., against defending league champion James Madison.

Softball Alumni Weekend Scheduled for April 7-9
The College of Charleston softball team is set to host Alumni Weekend on April 7-9. We invite all softball alumni to join us in celebrating the program's 25th anniversary when we take on UNCW. Those planning on attending must RSVP in advance. For more information or to RSVP, write to schumanta@cofc.edu or call 843-953-2632.