STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Going up against one of the hottest teams in the country on the road, the Elon University softball team battled throughout most of the game, but a seventh-inning walk-off home run by Stony Brook handed the Phoenix a 4-3 setback in the opening game of its CAA series on Friday, April 26, at University Park.
 
The loss dropped the Phoenix's ledger to 19-26 overall and a 13-9 mark in the CAA. Stony Brook improves to 31-13 and 16-6 versus league opponents. The Seawolves also extend their active NCAA-best win streak to 18.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• McKenna McCard took the loss in the circle for the Phoenix, falling to 10-6 on the year. The Ashburn, Ga., native pitched 6.2 innings and allowed three earned runs with four strikeouts. It was the first loss for McCard since a 4-2 setback versus Delaware on April 7.
 
AT THE PLATE
• Elon was held to five hits in the game with Drew Menscer leading the way with a 2-of-2 performance at the dish. Gabi Schaal homered for the ninth time this season while she, Carley Davis and Allee Seering each drove in an RBI.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Elon started the scoring in the top of the second. Schaal worked a full count before sending a home run over the wall in left field, giving the maroon and gold the 1-0 lead.
• Stony Brook tied the game in the bottom of the second. Elon committed a couple of errors in the inning with the Seawolves scoring on an RBI off a fielder's choice to knot the game at one-all.
• The Phoenix retook the lead in the top of the third. Elon loaded the bases with one out after Mauri Murray was walked with Davis coming to the plate. Davis reached on a fielder's choice with a run coming across as the Phoenix took a 2-1 advantage.
• Stony Brook came back with a two-run bottom of the fourth to take the advantage. The Seawolves hit a one-out, two-run homer to left as Elon saw Stony Brook take a 3-2 lead before the end of the fourth.
• Elon tied the game once again in the top of the fifth. The Phoenix loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a fielding error to lead off the inning before Reagan Hartley scored on a groundout to third as Elon leveled the game at 3-3.
• The Phoenix had a chance to go ahead in the top of the seventh. Murray reached on a one-out bunt single and advanced to third on a single from Seering to give Elon a runner in scoring position. Murray however would get stranded as the Seawolves struck out the next batter and forced a fly out to end the frame.
• Elon induced the first two outs in the bottom of the seventh looking to extend the game into extras. Stony Brook would have other plans as a solo home run to left center gave the Seawolves the 4-3 win via walk-off, extending their win streak to 18.
 
ON DECK
Game two is scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow between the Phoenix and the Seawolves. The contest will stream on FloSoftball.