ELON, NC. - The Elon University softball team opened conference play with a doubleheader against the North Carolina A&T Aggies on Friday, March 8. The Phoenix (7-14, 2-0 CAA) won the first game in a decisive 8-0 victory before walking it off 6-5 in game two over the Aggies (6-14, 0-2 CAA).
 
Game 1: Elon 8, NC A&T 0 (5)
McKenna McCard made her sixth start of the season in the circle for the Phoenix in game one. The first batter of the game reached on an error, but McCard would bounce right back with her first strikeout of the day. Immediately after, Carley Davis showed off her arm behind the plate to catch the runner stealing before the Aggies left two runners stranded with another McCard strikeout.
 
The game stood scoreless going into the bottom of the third and Elon looked to strike after forcing N.C. A&T to leave two more runners aboard. Allee Seering walked to start the inning and quickly stole second to move into scoring position. Davis moved her to third on a long fly out before Megan Grant brought her home on an RBI single right up the middle. Gabi Schaal would follow suit with a single of her own to put runners on first and second and bring up Kaitlyn Wells. Wells hit her own single to score Grant and Schaal to give the Phoenix a 3-0 lead.
 
Elon's defense made quick work of the Aggies' lineup through the next two innings as the game entered the bottom of the fifth.
 
The offense was sparked as Davis reached first after being hit by the pitch as Mary Moss Wirt came in as a pinch runner. A walk by Grant and another single by Schaal juiced the bases with no outs. Wells would replace Wirt on the bases as she reached on a fielder's choice and Wirt got out at home. Ella Roberson and Greta Hessenthaler recorded back-to-back walks to plate two runs. Seering looked for her first hit of the day and came through with a two-RBI single to make it 7-0 as Mauri Murray stepped into the box. Murray was searching for a hit of her own to close out the game. She smacked the ball on a 1-0 count that tightroped the left field line for an RBI double to win the game 8-0.
 
McCard (2-3) ended the matchup pitching the full 5.0 innings and struck out four batters on her way to recording her second win of the year.
 
Game 2: Elon 6, NC A&T 5
Isley Duggins stepped into the circle to start for Elon as the Aggies started the second game of the twin bill by recording their first run of the day. The leadoff batter singled on a full count and made her way around the bases before an RBI single brought her home. The Phoenix defense was able to force a ground out to stop any more runs from crossing the plate.
 
Both team's defenses moved quickly, recording the necessary outs to keep the game moving. The Aggies looked to capitalize as three singles loaded the bases before tacking on two runs on back-to-back, bases-loaded walks. Taylor Cherry came in for relief and immediately forced the batter to hit into a fielder's choice for the third out.
 
The Phoenix looked to make a comeback in the bottom of the frame as Seering reached on an error to start the offensive attack. A double by Murray put runners on the corners for Davis. Davis had a batter's count at 2-1 as she hit a double to cut the Aggies lead to one. Grant hit a sacrifice bunt to move pinch runner Peyton Fitzpatrick to third as Schaal finished the job with a groundout to buy the runner enough time to score and tie the game at 3-3.
 
Just one inning later, the Phoenix bats started to heat up again. Roberson stepped in as a pinch hitter and walked on a full count and then stole second. Drew Menscer climbed into the box and singled to second base before copying Roberson and stealing second. Seering fouled out but hit the ball far enough to bring Roberson home and take the lead. Murray hit her second double of the game as Menscer scored and gave Elon a 5-3 advantage.
 
The Phoenix was able to grab two quick outs in the top of the sixth, but the Aggies were able to record three singles in a row to plate a run and cut Elon's lead to one. In the top of the seventh, N.C. A&T had runners on first and second before a groundout plated the tying run for the Aggies. Elon was able to escape the jam and leave two runners stranded.
 
Elon was ready to walk the game off as Menscer hustled to first and reached on an error by the pitcher. She then moved to second on a stolen base before Seering stepped into the batter's box. The junior faced a 1-2 count and scorched the ball down the right field line as Menscer stepped on home to end the game 6-5 in dramatic fashion.
 
Meredith Wells (1-4) earned the win after tossing 1.1 innings of work and allowing just one run in relief.
 
ON DECK
The Phoenix will face the Aggies for the final game of the conference series on Sunday, Mar. 10 at Hunt Softball Park. The contest is set for 1:00 p.m. and will stream on FloSoftball.