RALEIGH – A tough bottom of the fourth inning for the Elon University softball team broke open a tied contest as the Phoenix fell to ACC foe NC State, 12-2, on Tuesday night, April 2, at Dail Softball Stadium.
 
The loss dropped the Phoenix's record to 13-22 on the season while NC State improved to 19-16. The win was the third in as many meetings this season for the Wolfpack against the Phoenix.
 
AT THE PLATE
• Elon was held to three hits in the contests with two of those coming off the bat of Allee Seering. The Waxhaw, N.C., native was 2-of-2 at the plate with an RBI. Gabi Schaal added the other base hit with a home run for the Phoenix.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• Isley Duggins was credited with the loss in the circle, falling to 2-5 on the season. The junior pitched one complete inning and gave up five runs on four hits with a strikeout.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• The Phoenix threatened in the top of the second. Seering hit a one-out single up the middle and advanced to second on a stolen base. Seering then reached third on a fielder's choice as NC State recorded the second out. A walk to Drew Menscer loaded the bases for the Phoenix, but a ground out closed the inning.
• Seering's bat helped the Phoenix plate the first run of the game in the third. The junior drove in Mauri Murray, who reached earlier in the inning on a walk, on a two-out single to center to put the maroon and gold ahead 1-0.
• The Wolfpack came back with a pair of runs in its half of the third. NC State drove in a pair of runs on a one-out double down the left field line as Elon lost the advantage, 2-1.
• Elon was able to tie the game in the top of the fourth. Schaal worked a 2-2 count before adding her sixth homer of the season to leadoff the frame as the solo hit knotted the game at two-all.
• NC State however broke the game open with a 10-run bottom of the fourth, taking a 12-2 lead going into the fifth frame. Elon had a pair of runners reach base in the top of the fifth, but they would get stranded as the Wolfpack induced the final outs on strikeouts to end the game in the fifth via run rule.
 
ON DECK
The Phoenix welcomes CAA-leader Delaware to Hunt Softball Park for a three-game set this weekend, April 5-7. The series begins on Friday, April 5, at 5 p.m. with all games during the weekend being streamed in FloSoftball.