ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team took an early lead, but a pair of two-run home runs by Delaware helped the Blue Hens to a 4-2 win over the Phoenix in its CAA rubber match on Sunday afternoon, April 7, at Hunt Softball Park.
 
Elon falls to 14-24 overall and 8-7 in league play. The Blue Hens improve to 26-8 and a league-best 13-2 ledger.
 
AT THE PLATE
• Both teams were tied with four hits each with Delaware having three of its hits go for extra bases. Four different players registered a hit for the Phoenix with Megan Grant, Mauri Murray, Kaitlyn Wells and Drew Menscer recording a base knock. Wells drove in the lone RBI for the Phoenix while Murray extended her reached base streak to 11 games.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• McKenna McCard was handed the loss, falling to 6-5 on the year. The junior pitched 5.1 innings and allowed four runs with three strikeouts. Taylor Cherry pitched 1.2 innings in relief and recorded two strikeouts.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• After both teams posted scoreless innings in the first two frames, Elon posted the first run of the game in the bottom of the third. Drew Menscer reached on a one-out walk before stealing second to move into scoring position. A grounder to first moved Menscer to third with Megan Grant coming to the plate. After a couple of pitches, Menscer would score on a passed ball, giving the Phoenix a 1-0 lead.
• Delaware took the lead in the top of the fifth. Elon retired the first two batters, but had a runner reach on a walk. The Blue Hens will capitalize with a two-run home run to take a 2-1 advantage after the top of the fifth.
• Elon tried to respond in the bottom of the fifth. Menscer reached on a two-out single to center and was joined on the bases after Greta Hessenthaler drew a walk. A flyout to center would leave both runners stranded as the game moved to the sixth.
• The Blue Hens added to their lead in the top of the sixth. Delaware reached on a one-out double down the left field line before adding its second two-run home run of the game to increase its lead to 4-1.
• The Phoenix came back with a run to pull within two in the bottom of the sixth. Mauri Murray reached on a one-out single to left and moved to second after Carley Davis drew a free pass. After the Blue Hens induced the second out on a fly out to center, Kaitlyn Wells lined a single to center, scoring Murray from second to make it a two-run game, 4-2.
• After retiring the Blue Hens in order in the top of the seventh, the Phoenix looked to rally in its home half of the frame. Delaware however went three up and three down with the Elon bats as the Blue Hens secured the 4-2 win and the 2-1 series victory.
 
ON DECK
Elon travels to Towson next weekend, April 12-14, for its next CAA series.