ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team travels down I-40 to compete at the UNCG Spartan Classic this weekend, March 11-13, at the UNCG Softball Stadium. The Phoenix meets Delaware State, Saint Francis (Pa.) and Michigan State at the tournament.
 
Spartan Classic Schedule (Elon Games Only)
Friday, March 11 vs. Michigan State – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 12 vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) – 2:15 p.m.
Sunday, March 13 vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) – 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, March 12 vs. Delaware State – 1:15 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.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Phoenix hosted its last regular-season tournament of the year, the Cardinal Invitational, last weekend, March 4-6, going 4-1 against the field of Michigan State (twice), Detroit Mercy (twice) and East Carolina.
• Elon posted three shutout victories in its five games earning a 2-0 win over Michigan State, an 8-0 win over Detroit Mercy and a 1-0 victory versus ECU in its tournament finale.
• The Phoenix batted .307 overall in its five games while holding opponents to a .198 average. Elon had five players hit over .300 among the players who started three or more games.
 
PERFECT DAY WITH A CHERRY ON TOP
• Rookie pitcher Taylor Cherry pitched the third perfect game in school history at the Division I level last Sunday, March 6, in Elon's 1-0 win over ECU.
• Facing a Pirates' offense that came into the game ranked in the top-50 in the nation in batting average and doubles, Cherry needed only 86 pitches to retire all 21 batters she faced in the contest.
• The Suffolk, Va., native struck out 10 batters in the contest – setting a new personal-best for the first-year player.
• Cherry became the first Elon player with a perfect game since Kiandra Mitchum achieved the feat in 2018 versus Mount St. Mary's. Abby Barker pitched the lone other perfect game in 2016 versus Niagara.
• For her efforts, Cherry was named the Colonial Athletic Association's Rookie of the Week on Tuesday, March 8.
 
AROUND THE HORN
• As a team, Elon is hitting .252 with two players – Rebecca Murray (.396) and Megan Grant (.321) – batting north of .300 among its regulars.
• Murray ranks among the top-10 of the CAA in average, on-base percentage (.475), hits (21) and walks (eight). The Indian Trail, N.C., native is also leading the league in stolen bases with 12.
• Grant leads the nation in triples with five and is third overall in the country in triples per game at 0.26. The Vinton, Va., native is also leading the CAA in total walks with 12.
• As a team, Elon has been very patient at the plate, ranking second in the CAA with 60 walks. Thanks to Grant's five triples, the Phoenix also leads the league in that category with seven as a team.
• In the circle, Elon's 2.71 ERA is third overall in the CAA with the maroon and gold ranking second with 95 strikeouts.
• Redshirt senior McKenzie Weber has yet to allow an earned run this season in her 24.0 innings of action. The Overland Park, Kan., native tossed her second shutout of the season versus Michigan State on March 4 in Elon's 2-0 win.
• Cherry ranks second in the CAA in strikeouts with 43 and is only five strikeouts away from surpassing the Phoenix's strikeout leader from last year, Kenna Quinn.
• Kathy Bocock is in her 11^th season at the helm of the Elon softball program. She has amassed 494 career victories with 246 of those coming at Elon.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Michigan State
• The Phoenix will face Michigan State for the third time this season to open the tournament on Friday. The Spartans are 11-9 going into the tournament before its matchup versus host UNCG on Thursday. Michigan State last played at South Carolina on Tuesday where it fell to the Gamecocks, 4-1.
• Junior Camryn Wincher leads the Spartans with her .373 average and has driven in a team-best 12 RBI. Freshman Macy Lee is next on the team with her .333 average and 11 RBI.
• Michigan State has a 1.29 team ERA going into the tournament headlined by its ace Ashley Miller and her 0.73 ERA in 67.1 innings. Miller has also struck out 107 batters for the Spartans.
 
Saint Francis (Pa.)
• The Red Flash is another familiar opponent for the Phoenix this season with the two teams having played previously at the Elon Softball Classic on Feb. 12. The maroon and gold came away with a 3-2 win to improve to 2-0 all-time in the series.
• Saint Francis is 10-9 on the year after going 3-2 at the North Florida/Jacksonville Spring Break Challenge on March 4-6. Offensively, the Red Flash are hitting .278 with four regulars in their lineup batting .300 or batter led by Mekenzie Saban's .403 average. Saban is also one of three players with 10 or more RBI for Saint Francis.
• In the circle, the duo of Rachel Marsden and Grace Vesco have carried the load for the Red Flash. Marsden is 6-3 with an ERA of 3.49 in her 69.2 innings while Vesco is 4-6 with a 4.29 ERA in 50.1 innings. The pair have also struck out 108 batters combined.
 
Delaware State
• Going into the tournament, Delaware State is 0-8 on the year after last playing at the Plainsman Invitational at Auburn University on Feb. 25-27.
• The Hornets are hitting .165 on the season with senior Jaelyn Baker leading the team with her .267 average among the qualified hitters. She also has driven in two of Delaware State's six runs this year.
• Redshirt sophomore Sydney Hoffman has pitched a team-high 12.0 innings while true sophomore Mayanah McIntosh is next with 11.2 innings with her team-high 11 strikeouts.
 
ON DECK
Elon heads to East Carolina for a doubleheader next Wednesday, March 16, in Greenville, N.C. The opening game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start time.