ELON, N.C. – A few early miscues by the Elon University softball team aided in the Phoenix's 4-2 setback versus Delaware in game two of its CAA series on Saturday, April 6 at Hunt Softball Park.
 
Elon (14-23, 8-6 CAA) saw its five-game league winning streak come to a halt versus the Blue Hens (25-8, 12-2 CAA) while seeing Delaware even the series to set up for the rubber match tomorrow.
 
AT THE PLATE
• Elon had seven hits in the game with Carley Davis going 2-of-3 at the plate to lead the Phoenix. Megan Grant and Gabi Schaal added a hit and an RBI in the game.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• Isley Duggins was handed the loss for the Phoenix, falling to 2-6 on the season. She pitched 1.1 innings while giving up one earned run with a strikeout.
• Taylor Cherry tossed 5.2 innings in relief and allowed one earned run with four hits and a strikeout.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• The Phoenix got into some trouble in the top of the first. The Blue Hens loaded the bases with no outs thanks to a couple of Phoenix errors and a few free passes. A hit-by-pitch with the bags full led to a run coming home for Delaware, but Elon induced the next three outs on a strikeout and a double play to escape the inning with just the one run allowed.
• Delaware added to its lead in the second frame. Another Elon error allowed the leadoff batter to reach while advancing to second on the play. A passed ball and a wild pitch enabled the Blue Hens to plate the second run of the game while an RBI single to left pushed another run to the dish as Delaware took a 3-0 lead after the top of the second.
• Elon was able to scratch across its first run in the bottom of the fifth. Mary Moss Wirt reached on a one-out triple to give the Phoenix a runner in immediate scoring position. After a fly out threatened to leave her stranded, Grant drove a single up the middle to push her home as the Phoenix joined the Blue Hens on the scoreboard and trailed 3-1 after five innings.
• The Phoenix pulled closer with another run in the bottom of the sixth. Davis reached on a one-out single down the left field line before Allee Seering also joined her on the bases on a single up the middle. Davis would eventually score on a two-out RBI single to right by Gabi Schaal to pull the Phoenix within one, 3-2, but Elon was called out on the bases on the play trying to reach third to close the inning.
• Delaware added some breathing room with another run in the top of the seventh. A one-out, solo home run pushed the Blue Hens' lead to two, 4-2, before the inning was turned to the home half.
• Elon got the tying run at the plate after Greta Hessenthaler reached on a walk with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Hessetnahler moved to second after a ground out, but the Blue Hens recorded the final out on a fly out to right to escape with the 4-2 win.
 
ON DECK
Series finale between the Phoenix and the Blue Hens is set for tomorrow, April 7, at 1 p.m. and will be shown on FloSoftball.