LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Elon University softball team was handed a 1-0 shutout versus Princeton on Friday, Feb. 24, as the Phoenix opened play at the Liberty Softball Classic at Liberty Softball Stadium.
 
Elon fell to 4-7 on the year with its second straight setback. The Tigers, who are the defending Ivy League champion and 2022 NCAA Tournament participant, move to 1-0 in their first game of the 2023 season.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• Isley Duggins took the loss in the circle for Elon to fall to 0-3 on the season. The Burlington, N.C., native pitched a complete game and allowed three hits and one run while striking out four batters.
 
AT THE PLATE
• The Phoenix was held to only one hit against Princeton's Alexis Laudenlager, the 2022 Ivy League Pitcher of the Year. Drew Menscer had the only base knock in the contest for the Phoenix, who left four base runners stranded while striking out 11 times.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Elon had runners reach in the first and second inning and advance into scoring position. Menscer led off the top of the first with a free pass and moved to second on a ground out, but would be stranded as the next two batters were struck out.
• The Phoenix again had a runner reach second with one out in the top of the second. Allee Seering drew a walk and stole second to move into scoring position. Seering however was thrown out trying to take third before the Phoenix was struck out looking to end the inning.
• Menscer got the Phoenix's only hit of the day on a two-out single up the middle in the top of the third. She moved to second after Megan Grant was walked, but a fly out to center would leave two on for the maroon and gold.
• The Tigers plated the lone run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Elon quickly induce the first two outs of the frame, but Princeton stayed alive as the next three batters all reached to load the bases. The Phoenix looked to escape the inning unharmed, but another walk enabled the Tigers to score a run with the bags full to take a 1-0 lead.
• Elon would have only one runner reach for the remainder of the game as Payton Swart drew a hit-by-pitch in the top of the fifth with two outs. A strikeout left her stranded as Laudenlager retired the last seven batters to earn the shutout win.
 
ON DECK
Elon is back on the diamond for day two of the Liberty Softball Classic, facing Northern Illinois in a doubleheader. The Phoenix and the Huskies start the day at 10 a.m.