RALEIGH, N.C. – The Elon University softball team had a pair of setbacks on Friday, Feb. 16, in the Phoenix's first day at the Marucci Classic hosted by NC State. Elon fell to North Dakota State, 8-7, in its opening contest while being handed a 9-0 loss to UConn in its nightcap at Dail Softball Stadium.
 
Elon falls to 3-3 on the season with the two setbacks on the day.
 
North Dakota State 8, Elon 7 (8)
• The Bison was able to get on the board in the top of the third. A sac fly hit pushed the first run across the plate as NDSU took an 1-0 advantage.
• Elon responded to take the lead in the home half of the third thanks to a Bison error. Kaitlyn Wells hit a fly ball to right field, but it was misplayed by the fielder. That allowed Drew Menscer and Megan Grant to score after the pair reached on one-out singles earlier in the frame to put Elon ahead 2-1.
• The Phoenix prevented the tying run from scoring in the top of the fifth. NDSU had two runners reach on singles before the Phoenix recorded the second out on a strikeout looking. The Bison hit a single on the next at bat into center field and sent the runner from second to home plate. A great throw from the outfield from Menscer to Carley Davis at the plate helped the Phoenix record the final out to escape the inning.
• The Bison would tie the game in the top of the sixth after a solo home run with one out. The Phoenix however answered in the bottom of the sixth as Davis hit a sharp liner that edged closely down the foul line while going over the wall. The play was initially ruled a foul ball, but was overturned by the officials as Davis' round tripper put the maroon and gold in front, 3-2.
• Elon would add to its run total in the sixth as an error drove in another run while Allee Seering drove a double to right field, driving in a pair of runs as the Phoenix padded its margin for a four-run lead, 6-2.
• The lead would not last for the Phoenix as the Bison came back with a four-spot in the top of the seventh to tie the game. NDSU hit another solo homer to lead off the inning followed by two more runners reaching on a single and a walk. Elon induced the next two outs to leave the Bison down to its final out down two, but an error kept the inning alive before a two-RBI double knotted the contests at six-all.
• The Phoenix could not answer in the seventh as the game went into extras. In the top of the eighth, Elon was able to record the first two outs, but the Bison stayed alive after loading the bases on free passes. NDSU pushed across the go-ahead runs on a two-RBI single to left and took a 8-6 lead.
• Elon did not go away quietly as Ella Roberson opened the bottom of the eighth with a double down the right field line. She advanced to third on a ground out before scoring off another ground out to pull within one. The Phoenix however could not tack on the tying run as a fly out ended the Phoenix's rally.
• The Phoenix recorded nine hits in the game with Davis going 3-of-4 with her first homer of the season. Seering, Roberson and Greta Hessenthaler added doubles to their stat lines.
• Anna Dew (0-2) was handed the loss for the Phoenix after pitching a third of an inning and allowed two runs with three walks in relief. Starter McKenna McCard pitched 6.0 innings with three runs allowed with five strikeouts.
 
UConn 9, Elon 0
• In the start of game two, UConn put two runs immediately in the top of the first followed by a two-run homer in the second to take a 4-0 advantage.
 
• The Phoenix was held to just two hits in the matchup, the first of which came from Mauri Murrey with a single through the left side to move Kaitlyn Wells up to third after she was hit by the pitch in her at-bat. The maroon and gold loaded the bases but were unable to bring them home.
• Starting pitcher Meredith Wells was able to make quick work of the Huskies lineup in the third by forcing back-to-back groundouts.
• Drew Menscer recorded the second hit with a single of her own in the bottom of the third. She was able to maneuver around the bases and make it to third via a fielder's choice and a wild pitch but was left stranded at third.
• The Huskies put up three more runs in the top of the fourth. An RBI double and home run ended the day for Meredith Wells as Taylor Cherry relieved her with two outs. After allowing a single, Cherry was able to close out the side with a strikeout.
• UConn got two more runs to close out the game as the Phoenix were retired in order to end the matchup.
 
On Deck
Elon is back in action tomorrow morning, Feb. 17, facing the Bison in a rematch at 9:30 a.m. before playing host NC State at 12 p.m. The Phoenix-Wolfpack game will stream on the ACC Network Extra via WatchESPN or the ESPN app.