ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team completed its CAA-opening series with an 11-3 victory over North Carolina A&T on Sunday, March 10, at Hunt Softball Park.
 
The Phoenix (8-14, 3-0 CAA) completed the series sweep versus its Piedmont Triad rival, extending its winning streak versus the Aggies (6-15, 0-3 CAA) to 15 games.
 
AT THE PLATE
• Elon had 10 hits in the game, its third game of the season having 10 or more hits. Allee Seering, Megan Grant and Ella Roberson each had two hits in the game with Seering having a pair of extra-base hits with a double and a triple in the contest. Seering also drove in four RBI while Mauri Murray added two more on her team-best fifth homer of the season.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• McKenna McCard (3-3) tossed 5.0 innings and allowed one earned run in the contest for the Phoenix. The junior struck out seven batters in the contest and allowed three hits.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Both teams battled through a pitchers' duel through the first two innings. McCard was impressive through her first three frames, striking out six of the first nine batters she faced.
• Elon's offense came alive in the home half of the third. Drew Menscer reached on a two-out walk and stole second to move into scoring position. An error on the right fielder allowed Seering to reach while Menscer scored the first run of the contest. The Aggies' miscue would prove costly on the next at bat as Murray connected on a two-run home run to left, putting the Phoenix ahead 3-0.
• N.C. A&T responded with a solo home run in the top of the fourth, breaking up McCard's shutout and no-hitter. Elon was able to limit the damage to just the lone run as the Phoenix escaped the inning with the 3-1 lead.
• Another Aggies error allowed the Phoenix to score another run in the bottom of the fifth. Menscer led off the frame with a triple to center and then scored on an errant throw home by the right fielder, pushing the score to 4-1.
• Elon got into a jam in the top of the sixth. N.C. A&T loaded the bases with no outs before scoring a run on a hit-by-pitch. The Phoenix recovered to induce an out, but an error led to a second run to be plated by the Aggies to cut the Phoenix's lead to one, 4-3, before the close of the inning.
• The Phoenix put up seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to close out the game. Grant doubled to lead off the inning before being joined on the bases on a walk to Gabi Schaal. Elon then loaded the bases after Kaitlyn Wells reached on an infield single leading to Roberson driving in a pair of runs on a single up the middle. Another RBI was scored on a fielder's choice, leading the bags full for the Phoenix with Seering coming to the dish. The junior hit a bases-clearing double to left field, pushing Elon's lead to 10-3 before she moved to third on a passed ball. After a pair of putouts threatened to leave Seering stranded at third, Grant drove her home on an RBI single through the right side as the Phoenix earned its second win of the weekend via run rule.
 
ON DECK
Elon hosts North Carolina on Tuesday, March 12. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Hunt Softball Park with the contest being streamed on FloSoftball.