DURHAM, N.C. – The Elon University softball team fell at No. 11 Duke, 4-0, on Monday afternoon, April 10 at the Duke Softball Stadium.
 
The win improved the Blue Devils to 31-8 overall on the season while giving Duke its fourth straight victory in the series over the Phoenix. Elon fell to 14-20 with its third straight setback overall.
 
AT THE PLATE
The Phoenix was held without a hit for the first time in a game since April 23, 2017, at Hofstra. Elon had four players reach on two walks and a pair of hit-by-pitches while leaving four runners on base.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
Michaela Hobson took the loss for the Phoenix, falling to 0-2 on the year. The Westfield, N.J., native pitched 2.2 innings and allowed five hits and three runs, but only one earned run. Isley Duggins tossed 3.1 frames in relief and allowed one run on two hits.
 
THE RUNDOWN
The Blue Devils took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Duke's D'Auna Jennings led off the inning on a single and stole second base to move into scoring position. A grounder advanced her to third before she scored on a sac fly to left to put the Blue Devils on the scoreboard.
 
Elon was able to load the bases in the top of the third. Chloe Hatzopoulos reached on a fielder's choice with two outs before being joined on the bases by Megan Grant and Drew Menscer on an error and a walk, respectively. The Phoenix however could not drive anyone in as a groundout to third ended the inning.
 
Duke added two more runs in the home half of the third. Jennings reached on a leadoff single and advanced to third on a fielder's choice and an error. She scored later in the inning on an RBI single from Gisele Tapia. Elon induced the next two outs, but an RBI single by Claire Davidson pushed across another run for the Blue Devils to increase their lead to 3-0.
 
Jennings added her third run scored in the game in the bottom of the fourth. Tapia added her second RBI on a single to give the Phoenix a 4-0 deficit.
 
Elon had runners reach in both the top of the fifth and sixth frames with one out. The Phoenix was unlucky in both occurrences, hitting into a double play to end the possible threat each time.
 
ON DECK
Elon returns to the diamond to host North Carolina Central in a single game on Tuesday, April 11. That contest is scheduled for a 5 p.m. opening pitch at Hunt Softball Park.