MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – An eight-run seventh inning along with 14 hits and three homers aided the Elon University softball team to a 14-6 victory at College of Charleston on Friday afternoon, March 29, at the Patriots Point Athletic Complex.
 
The win was the second straight for the Phoenix (12-21, 6-5 CAA) over the Cougars (8-21, 2-9 CAA), securing the series victory. The victory was also the seventh win out of the past eight games for Elon at Charleston.
 
AT THE PLATE
• The Phoenix set a new season-high in runs, hits (14) RBI (13) and homers (three) in its game versus the Cougars. It is the most runs that the Phoenix has scored in a game since plating 17 versus Rhode Island in 2021.
• Mauri Murray led five players who had multi-hit games for the Phoenix as the Marvin, N.C., native was 3-of-4 at the dish with three runs scored, two RBI and her sixth home run of the year. Kaitlyn Wells continued her sizzling play at the plate, going 2-of-4 with both of her hits being home runs while driving in three RBI.
• Wells tied Carley Davis and Teagan Baulsir for the team-lead in RBI with three with Davis going 2-of-3 at the plate while Baulsir drove in her runs as a pinch hitter, earning a double to her stats.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• Isley Duggins took the win for Elon, going to 3.1 on the season. The Burlington, N.C., native allowed two earned runs in 3.1 innings in relief. Starter Meredith Wells went 2.2 frames with four earned runs and a strikeout allowed.
• McKenna McCard pitched a perfect seventh inning with a strikeout for the Phoenix.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Elon had to fight out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the second. The Cougars loaded the bags after a Phoenix error and a single with only one out as Charleston looked to strike first on the scoreboard. The Phoenix was able to finagle out of the inning as Wells induced the next two outs on a fielder's choice and a fly out to leave ducks on the pond for CofC.
• The Phoenix added the first tally to the scoreboard in the top of the third. Mary Moss Wirt led off with a walk and advanced to third on a sac bunt and a fielder's choice that left Elon down to its final out. Murray however was able to find a gap through the left side as her single drove in Wirt and gave the Phoenix the 1-0 lead.
• Charleston came back with a four-spot in its home half of the third with all of its runs coming with two outs. The Cougars doubled to begin the inning, but the Phoenix retired the next two batters and looked to leave the runner stranded at second. CofC stayed alive in the frame on a single and a hit-by-pitch before tying the game on a single to third. With the bases juiced, the Cougars cleared them on a double to right center as the Phoenix faced a 4-1 deficit after three.
• Elon would get a run back in the top of the fourth. Kaitlyn Wells worked a 2-2 count before homering to left field to cut the Phoenix's deficit to two, 4-2, on the solo shot.
• The Phoenix rallied to retake the lead in the top of the fifth. Megan Grant singled to start the inning before advancing to second on a sac bunt. Murray pushed Grant to third on her single to left before moving to second on the play to give the Phoenix the tying runs in scoring position. Davis took advantage and singled to center field, scoring Grant and Murray to tie the game at four-all. After a popup induced the second out, Wells came back to the plate and added her second home run of the contest with the two-run bomb putting the Phoenix ahead, 6-4.
• Elon would add some insurance runs in the top of the seventh. The Phoenix plated eight runs in the frame with key plays being Murray's inside-the-park home run to lead off the inning along with a three-RBI double to left center by Baulsir with two outs. The big inning gave the Phoenix a 14-4 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.
• Charleston would make things interesting as the Cougars hit a two-run homer with no outs to cut the score to 14-6. After the Cougars had another runner reach in the inning on a single, McCard stepped into the circle for the Phoenix and promptly induced the next three outs in order to shut down any rally chances for CofC.
 
ON DECK
The series finale between the Phoenix and the Cougars is scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow, March 30. The game will stream on FloSoftball.