ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team rolled to an 8-2 win over former Colonial Athletic Association foe James Madison in its final game at the Phoenix Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 19, at Hunt Softball Park. The win was the 278^th career victory for Phoenix head coach Kathy Bocock, giving her the program's all-time program wins mark.
 
Elon (4-5) wrapped up its weekend at its home tournament going 3-1 in its four games, recovering from a 1-3 ledger from its season-opening slate last weekend. The Dukes moved to 2-3 on the young season.
 
AT THE PLATE
• The Phoenix had seven total hits in the game with Megan Grant leading the team at the plate by going 2-of-3. Five other players registered a base hit in the game for Elon.
• Bella Devesa had two RBI in the contest and also added a stolen base to her stat line. Carley Davis drove in a run and scored a pair of runs with a double while Claudia Penny also added a double and an RBI.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• McKenna McCard picked up the win for the Phoenix, going to 1-1 on the season. The sophomore allowed only two hits to the Dukes in her 6.0 innings of action. Taylor Cherry also saw work in the circle, picking up a pair of strikeouts in her inning.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• James Madison took the lead early on the Phoenix in the first inning. The Dukes had a runner reach on a one-out single down the right field line before a two-run homer by Hallie Hall put the Phoenix in a quick 2-0 deficit.
• Elon got a run back in the home half of the opening frame. Davis drew a two-out walk before scoring on a Penny double down the right field line to put the Phoenix on the board. Penny advanced to third on the throw and would be joined by Allee Seering on the bases in scoring position after she earned a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. The pair would be stranded however after a ground out to end the inning.
• The Phoenix had another chance to tie the game in the bottom of the second. Payton Swart reached on a walk with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch. A ground out advanced her to third, but JMU induced the final out on a grounder to second.
• After leaving runners stranded again in the bottom of the third, the Phoenix finally broke through with a six-run home half of the fourth. Chloe Hatzopoulos singled to lead off the inning and stole second with one out to move into scoring position. After a groundout threatened to leave the runners stranded for the Phoenix again, Elon rallied with two outs starting with an RBI single from Mauri Murray, who enabled Hatzopoulos to tie the game at two-all. The Phoenix proceeded to load the bases after a couple of walks issued to Grant and Davis with Penny coming to bat.
• Penny battled JMU's Lexi Rogers for 12 pitches before lining a shot towards the right fielder, who had the ball drop out of her glove. The error cleared the bases for the Phoenix, which took a 5-2 advantage on the miscue. Elon added two more runs on a two-RBI single to center from Devesa, scoring Penny and Seering, who reached earlier on a walk.
• Elon added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth on more clutch two-out hitting. Davis hit a double down the left field line, scoring Reagan Hartley, who reached earlier on a walk. The run gave the Phoenix an 8-2 cushion after the fifth.
• The Phoenix and McCard got into a bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth. The Dukes had runners reach on walks to put ducks on the pond, but McCard induced the final out on a fielder's choice to third to escape any harm.
• James Madison threatened one final time in the top of the seventh. The Dukes loaded the bases once more with no outs and the top of their lineup due up. Cherry however finagled her way out of the jam by retiring the next three batters including a strikeout to secure the win.
 
ON DECK
The Phoenix travels to NC State on Wednesday, Feb. 22, to begin a six-game stretch of non-home games. That contest is set for 5 p.m.