TOWSON, Md. – A complete game effort from junior McKenna McCard helped lead the Elon University softball team to an 8-0 run-rule victory at Towson on Friday afternoon, April 12, at Tiger Softball Stadium.
 
Elon improved to 15-24 overall and moves to 9-7 in CAA play. Towson falls to 15-25 and 5-11 in league games.
 
AT THE PLATE
• Elon had six hits in the game with Allee Seering and Gabi Schaal both going 2-of-3 to lead the Phoenix at the plate. Schaal also had a pair of doubles and RBI to her stat line while Seering and Carley Davis also doubled in the game.
• Megan Grant and Kaitlyn Wells scored two runs each with Grant tying her season-high with three walks drawn.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• McCard added her second shutout of the season after allowing five hits to the Tigers. The Ashburn, Ga., native struck out seven batters in the game while walking two to improve her ledger to 7-5.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Elon scored the first run in the top of the first. Grant walked and moved to third after a pair of groundouts. She would score on a Davis RBI double to left to put the Phoenix ahead 1-0.
• The Phoenix had to fight out of a jam in the bottom of the first. Towson's leadoff batter reached on a double and advanced to third after a fly out to give the Tigers two outs in the frame. After another runner reached on a walk, McCard struck out the next batter to leave the runners stranded.
• A two-spot in the top of the second added to the Phoenix's advantage. Kaitlyn Wells reached on an error before she moved to third as Schaal doubled to left center. A wild pitch enabled Wells to score while Schaal took her place at third. Another wild pitch brought Schaal across the dish as Elon took a 3-0 lead.
• Towson had runners reach scoring position in the bottom of the second. The Tigers leadoff batter reached on a double before she was joined by another runner after a single. After a strikeout induced the first out of the inning, the runners moved into scoring position after a wild pitch. Elon was able to finagle out of the inning as a fly out and a grounder left the runners stranded.
• Elon doubled its lead in the top of the third. With the bases-loaded with one out, Schaal drove in two more runs on her second double of the game, scoring Davis and Allee Seering, who reached earlier in the frame on a walk and a double, respectively. A sac fly from Drew Menscer added the third run of the frame with Wells scoring as the Phoenix took a 6-0 lead.
• The Phoenix got into another jam in the bottom of the third as the Tigers loaded the bases with one out. Towson had a runner reach after an error on a fielder's choice to put ducks on the pond. McCard would strike out the next batter before a fly out to left kept the bags full to end the frame.
• Elon scored two more runs in the top of the fourth. Grant drew a free pass to start the inning and advanced to second on a ground out. The Phoenix loaded the bases after Mauri Murray and Davis were walked before the Tigers made a pitching change. Elon kept the offensive pressure going as Seering singled to center, driving in Grant while keeping the bags full. A wild pitch added the eighth run of the contest for the Phoenix as the maroon and gold took an 8-0 lead.
• After Elon's offense was shutout in the fifth inning, Towson looked to rally and extend the game in its home half. A pair of Phoenix errors led to two runners reaching for the Tigers before Elon got the first out on a popup. A single however loaded the bases as Towson prepped to scratch across its first run of the game. McCard responded with her seventh strikeout on the next batter before the final out was recorded on a fielder's choice to secure Elon the 8-0 win.
 
ON DECK
Second game of the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow, April 13. That game will air on FloSoftball.