ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team dominated North Carolina Central in its final nonconference game of the season as the Phoenix posted its second shutout of the year in an 8-0 victory over the Eagles in five innings on Tuesday, April 11, at Hunt Softball Park.
 
The Phoenix improved to 15-20 on the season and snapped a three-game losing skid. N.C. Central fell to 12-24 overall while falling to 0-18 all-time against the maroon and gold.
 
AT THE PLATE
Elon recorded nine hits in the game. Claudia Penny (2-of-3), Carley Davis (2-of-2) and Bella Devesa (2-of-3) led the Phoenix at the plate while Davis and Megan Grant drove in a pair of RBI each. Penny added her 14^th double of the season while posting her team-best 12^th multi-hit contest of the year.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
A combined effort in the circle helped the Phoenix to its second shutout of the season. Starter McKenna McCard tossed 2.0 hitless frames with four strikeouts while Meredith Wells (4-5) also threw 2.0 scoreless innings while being credited with the win. Kaitlin King pitched the final inning in relief to help Elon to its first shutout since blanking Hampton 9-0 on April 2.
 
THE RUNDOWN
After McCard set down the Eagles in order in the top of the first, Elon came out with a two spot in the home half of the frame. The Phoenix saw its first two runners reach on a hit-by-pitch and a walk, but had the lead runner tagged out stealing third before adding its second out on a fly out to right. Penny however kept the maroon and gold alive with a double down the left field line to drive in a run before Davis pushed Penny across the dish on a single to left to give Elon a 2-0 advantage.
 
N.C. Central opened the second inning with a leadoff walk to give the Eagles their first base runner of the day. McCard however was unfazed with the sophomore promptly retiring the next three batters on strikeouts to leave the runner stranded.
 
Elon added to its lead with a six-run bottom of the second. Grant hit a bases-clearing double to right center, scoring Chloe Hatzopoulos and Payton Swart, who both reached earlier in the inning. A sac bunt moved Grant to third before she scored on an RBI single up the middle by Allee Seering that made the score 5-0.
 
After Penny joined Seering on the bases on a one-out single down the left field line, Davis drove in her second run of the contest on a single through the left side. An error in left field allowed Penny to score to put the Phoenix up 7-0. Kaitlyn Wells gave the Phoenix its final run of the inning on an RBI single up the middle, scoring Davis.
 
The Eagles twice threatened to break the Phoenix's shutout. N.C. Central's Imara Harrell reached on a one-out single and stole second to move into scoring position in the top of the fourth. A groundout advanced her to third before another runner joined the bases on a free pass with the team's leading home run hitter coming to the plate. Meredith Wells worked a 2-2 count before striking out the side to escape the jam for the Phoenix.
 
North Carolina Central came back again in the top of the fifth looking to push across a run to avoid the run-rule defeat. The Eagles saw their first two batters reach on singles and had both runners in scoring position with no outs. The Phoenix however buckled down defensively as Drew Menscer caught a fly out in center field on the next at bat and tossed a rope towards home plate where the Eagles were trying to score on the tag up. Mary Moss Wirt was able to secure the ball and tag the runner before she reached home plate giving the Phoenix two outs in the inning. A grounder to third on the next at bat closed out the game and gave Elon the 8-0 win.
 
ON DECK
The Phoenix is back in Colonial Athletic Association play this weekend, hosting UNCW on April 15-16 at Hunt Softball Park. The program is also hosting its Alumni Weekend versus the Seahawks with all former Elon softball alumni being encouraged to attend.