ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team battled tough but could not pull off the upset versus its in-state rival NC State, falling to the Wolfpack 6-4 in a midweek contest on Wednesday evening, March 2, at Hunt Softball Park.
 
A late two-run home run in the top of the seventh was the difference for the Wolfpack, who improved to 16-2 overall the season. The Phoenix fell to 9-4 overall in its attempt to knock off its second ACC opponent on its home field this season.
 
At the Plate
• The Phoenix won the hits battle versus the Wolfpack, 8-6, with NC State being held to its third-lowest hit total of the season. Rebecca Murray had a season-high three hits on the contest to go 3-for-4 while Carley Davis also registered a season-high in hits going 2-for-3.
• Davis and Kaitlyn Wells drove in the lone RBI for Elon while Gabi Schaal added her third double of the season.
 
In the Circle
• McKenna McCard took the loss in the circle, going to 1-1 on the year. In her 6.0 innings pitched, the Ashburn, Ga., native tallied three strikeouts and gave up six hits, six runs, five earned and walked five. McKenzie Weber pitched a scoreless inning for the maroon and gold in the seventh and had a strikeout.
 
The Rundown
• Elon jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in its home half of the first. Megan Grant led off on a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After moving over to third on a single by Murray, Grant scored after an errant throw to home on a rundown attempt against Murray between first and second. The error moved Murray to third before she crossed home plate on Wells' single to left for Elon's second run of the inning.
• NC State took the lead in the top of the third. Elon recorded the first out on a pop up, but a walk and a fielding error gave the Wolfpack a pair on before a three-run home run from Logan Morris over the left field wall advanced NC State in front, 3-2.
• The Phoenix got a run back in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game. Elon loaded the bases with no outs before a wild pitch enabled the Phoenix to knot the game at three-all. The maroon and gold could not keep the momentum going with the next three batters being retired in order.
• Elon retook the lead in the bottom half of the fifth. Murray led off on a single to third but was in danger of being stranded as the next two batters were struck out with Davis coming to the plate. The Bridgewater, Va., native connected on a two-out single to left to score Murray and put the Phoenix back in front, 4-3.
• The lead would not last as NC State tied the contest in the top of the sixth. Elon induced the first two outs on a pair of pop ups, but the Wolfpack had a runner reach on a hit-by-pitch giving them the tying run on base. A double to left field by Taylor Ensley scored the runner and knotted the game at 4-4.
• The Wolfpack took the lead for good in the top of the seventh inning. NC State led off with a single before Morris added her second home run of the game on a two-run blast over the wall in left to put the Wolfpack in front 6-4.
• The Phoenix got a runner back on in the home half of the seventh as Murray reached on a one-out single up the middle with the tying run at the plate. Murray was left stranded however as the Wolfpack recorded the final two outs to escape with the 6-4 win.
 
On Deck
The Phoenix hosts its third and final home tournament of the regular season, the Cardinal Invite, this weekend, March 4-6. Elon will see the field of Detroit Mercy, East Carolina and Michigan State at Hunt Softball Park.