ELON, N.C. – A great pitching performance in the circle from junior McKenna McCard along with key plays by her defense helped the Elon University softball team take a 5-2 win over CAA-leader Delaware on Friday evening, April 5, at Hunt Softball Park.
 
The win improved the Phoenix to 14-22 overall and 8-5 during CAA with its fifth straight league win. The loss dropped the Blue Hens to 24-8 and 11-2 in league play while snapping Delaware's 13-game win streak, which was the third-longest active streak in the nation going into today.
 
AT THE PLATE
• The Phoenix had 10 hits in the game against the Blue Hens with seven players in the lineup registering at least one hit. Allee Seering was a perfect 3-of-3 at the plate with a double while Greta Hessenthaler was 2-of-3 with a pair of RBI. Carley Davis homered in the contest with her third of the season.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• McCard gave up five hits and two runs in her complete-game performance. The Ashburn, Ga., native added a pair of strikeouts while being one out away from a shutout.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• After a scoreless first, the Phoenix scored four runs in the bottom of the second. Seering reached on a leadoff single then stole second to move into scoring position. She ended up crossing the plate on a Kaitlyn Wells single to center. Wells reached second on the play and advanced to third after Gabi Schaal singled to center. Schaal stole second to give the Phoenix runners in scoring position, with Wells and Schaal scoring on a two-RBI double to center by Hessenthaler. A ground out pushed Hessenthaler to third before a Reagan Hartley single through the right side scored another run to put the Phoenix ahead 4-0.
• Elon added another run in the bottom of the third. Davis worked a 1-2 count with one out before adding her third homer of the season on a solo shot to left to put the Phoenix ahead 5-0.
• Delaware had a pair of runners reach in the fifth, but the Phoenix defense stood strong. The Blue Hens had their first two runners of the inning reach on singles before having a pinch hitter step up to the plate. Delaware hit a liner to right, where Mauri Murray was able to gather it on a fly out as the runner from second tried to advance. Murray's throw was on target to third to throw out the runner for the double play. Elon induced the final out on a grounder to escape the inning.
• The Blue Hens broke their scoreless stalemate in the top of the seventh. Delaware reached on a one-out double before Elon recorded the second out on a fly out to Grant at short. The Blue Hens however got a two-out homer to left, breaking the Phoenix's shutout while bringing their deficit to three. McCard was able to recover as she retired the side with her second strikeout to secure the 5-2 win for the Phoenix.
 
ON DECK
Game two of the series begins tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Hunt Softball Park. The game will stream on FloSoftball.