ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team continues its homestand to start the season, hosting its second tournament of the year, the Phoenix Invitational, this weekend, Feb. 18-20. The maroon and gold will play five games against the field of Providence, UMass-Lowell and Morgan State.
 
Phoenix Invitational Schedule (Elon Games Only)
Friday, Feb. 18 vs. Providence (DH) – 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 19 vs. UMass-Lowell (DH) – 11:45 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 20 vs. Morgan State – 2 p.m.
 
Follow the Phoenix
• Live stats will be available for the tournament by going to the team's schedule page at elonphoenix.com.
• Updates will also be posted on Twitter at the team's account @ElonSoftball.
• All games over the weekend will be streamed on FloSoftball via a paid subscription.
 
Last Time Out
• The Phoenix defeated intrastate foe North Carolina on Wednesday, 4-3, thanks to a walk-off two-RBI single in the seventh from freshman Kaitlyn Wells.
• The win was the Phoenix's fourth out of the last five meetings versus its in-state rival.
• Fellow freshman Isley Duggins earned the win in the circle in her first collegiate start. The Burlington, N.C., native pitched a complete game and allowed three earned runs along with six hits allowed.
• The win improved the Phoenix to 4-0 to start the season, matching its best start since 2019.
 
Around the Horn
• As a team, Elon is hitting .225 as a team with two players – Keagan Goldwait (.429) and Rebecca Murray (.400) – batting north of .300 among its regulars.
• Murray leads the CAA in on-base percentage at .571 and in stolen bases at four. She ranks eighth in the country in stolen bases per game at 1.00.
• The Phoenix's 1.45 ERA is second in the CAA while Elon's 25 fanned batters is also second in the league.
• Two first-year pitchers – Duggins and Taylor Cherry - have seen the most time toeing the rubber for the maroon and gold in 2022. Duggins has pitched a team-high 11.1 innings with a 1.85 ERA while Cherry has tossed 9.2 frames with a 2.17 ERA and a team-high 15 strikeouts.
• Elon returns 15 letterwinners from last year's team including All-CAA honorees in Megan Grant, Rebecca Murray, Alexa Nemeth and Gabi Schaal. Grant also earned a spot on the CAA All-Tournament team. The Phoenix also brings back seven starters and four pitchers from the 2021 season
• Kathy Bocock is in her 11^th season at the helm of the Elon softball program. She has amassed 485 career victories with 237 of those coming at Elon.
 
Scouting the Opponents
Providence
• Providence College will open its 2022 campaign this weekend. The Friars are coming off a 5-16-1 overall record and went 4-13-1 in BIG EAST play.
• Providence returns top hitters sophomore Tori Grifone and junior Elysia Cunnigan in the starting lineup. During the 2021 season, Grifone recorded a .354 batting average with 17 hits and two home runs through 48 at-bats. Cunnigan posted a .297 hitting average with 11 hits, two home runs and three runs through 37 at-bats.
• Senior Daniela Alvarez will also be returning to the circle for the Friars. Alvarez posted a 2.62 ERA over 58.2 innings pitched last season and recorded a team-high 48 strikeouts.
• Jill Karwoski begins her fourth season as the head coach of Providence.
 
UMass-Lowell
• The River Hawks are 3-2 on the season after playing at the Tiger Invitational hosted at Auburn University on Feb. 11-13. UMass-Lowell earned victories over Seton Hall, St. John's (twice) at the tournament.
• UMass-Lowell is hitting .229 on the season with four players batting .300 or better. Sophomore catcher Becca Vaillancourt heads the River Hawks offense with her .364 average and three RBI while graduate student Olivia Labbe has a team-best five hits on her .357 average.
• In the circle, the duo of Ryley White and Chelsea Runyon have seen the most time for UMass-Lowell. White has a 2.05 ERA in her 13.2 innings of work and is tied with Runyon with 14 strikeouts to lead the team.
 
Morgan State
• Morgan State will also make its 2022 season debut at the tournament this weekend. The Bears went 24-17 overall last season and won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) tournament to advance to the NCAA Regional.
• The Bears were picked to finish first along with Norfolk State in the 2022 MEAC Preseason Poll. Morgan State also had two players tabbed to the preseason all-conference teams in sisters Aliya Ewell and Mia Ewell.
• Aliya Ewell started 40 of the 41 games played in 2021, finishing third on the team in batting average at .294 to help the Lady Bears capture the program's first MEAC softball title. Mia Ewell was a third team All-MEAC selection last year.
 
On Deck
Elon will take its first true road trip of the season next Wednesday, Feb. 23, traveling to Duke for a midweek contest. The opening pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.