ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team was handed a 12-1 setback to its intrastate rival North Carolina on Tuesday evening, March 12, in a nonconference contest at Hunt Softball Park.
 
The loss dropped the Phoenix's ledger to 8-15 on the season while the Tar Heels improved to 20-4 overall.
 
AT THE PLATE
• The Phoenix registered three hits in the contest. Allee Seering and Mauri Murray each had a double in the contest with Murray adding an RBI. Peyton Fitzpatrick added the other hit for Elon.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• Isley Duggins received the loss in the circle for the Phoenix, going to 1-2 on the season. The junior pitched 3.0 innings and allowed six runs on six hits.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• The Tar Heels scored the first run of the game in the top of the first. North Carolina led off on a bunt single before having the runner advance to third on a ground out and a passed ball. A single to third allowed the Tar Heels to plate a run to take a 1-0 lead.
• North Carolina added more runs to the scoreboard in the top of the second. The Tar Heels drove in a pair of runs on a triple to left field while a sac fly to left added the third run of the frame as Elon faced a 4-0 deficit.
• The Tar Heels broke open the game with a seven-run top of the fourth. The main producer of those runs came off a grand slam by Isabella Emerling with one out, making the score 11-0 in favor of the Tar Heels.
• Elon's offense came alive in its home half of the fourth. Seering drove a double to right field, breaking up the Tar Heels' no-hitter. On the next at bat, Murray hit another double, this time to left center, scoring Seering from second to put the Phoenix on the scoreboard. The Phoenix kept the pressure going, loading the bases with two outs, but UNC induced the final out on a fly out to right.
• North Carolina added one more run in the top of the fifth on an RBI single to left center. The Phoenix was unable to respond in the bottom of the fifth as the Tar Heels took the 12-1 win.
 
ON DECK
The Phoenix returns to CAA play this weekend, March 15-17, as Elon travels to UNCW. The series is scheduled to begin on Friday at 6 p.m. at Boseman Field and will stream on FloSoftball.