ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team started its final weekend of the regular season on a strong note as the Phoenix defeated Drexel, 8-0, on Thursday evening, May 2, in the start of its CAA series at Hunt Softball Park.
 
The win improved the Phoenix to 21-27 on the season while going to 15-10 in league play. The Dragons fell to 15-27 with a 10-13 mark in the CAA.
 
AT THE PLATE
• Elon had 14 hits in the game, tying its single-season high. Mauri Murray had a season-high four hits in the contest for Elon, going 4-of-4 at the plate with a triple and three RBI. Drew Menscer also had a perfect day at the dish with a 3-of-3 performance while Megan Grant went 2-of-4.
• Gabi Schaal added two RBI in the game along with a double. The redshirt junior now has a team-best 35 RBI on the season while reaching 10 doubles on the year.
• Murray's four hits are the most for a Phoenix in a single game this season. It was also the 11^th multi-hit contest of 2024 for the sophomore, second-best on the team behind Allee Seering's 12.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• McKenna McCard posted her fourth shutout of the season as the junior allowed six hits with three strikeouts in her complete-game effort. She improves to 11-7 on the season.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Drexel had a runner reach third with one out in the top of the first, but the Phoenix was able to finagle out of the jam to leave the runner stranded going into the home half of the frame.
• Elon saw its first two runners of the inning reach on back-to-back singles from Grant and Reagan Hartley. The pair would score on a Murray single down the left field line as Grant rounded second to cross home plate. The Phoenix had its next two batters get retired before Hartley and Murray advanced into scoring position off a wild pitch. That play would help Elon plate two more runs off a Schaal double down the left field line as the Phoenix took a 3-0 lead after one.
• The Phoenix got off to a shaky start in the bottom of the second. The Dragons saw their first two runners reach on a walk and a single to put the tying run at the plate. McCard and Elon's defense got out of the jam on a fly out and a double play turned by Greta Hessenthaler to close the inning.
• Another run would go across the dish in the bottom of the second. Elon loaded the bases with two outs before Seering drew a free pass for the Phoenix's fourth run of the game and a 4-0 lead.
• A four-run bottom of the fifth for the Phoenix put the game out of reach. Teagan Baulsir hit a one-out double down the left field line before she was replaced on the bases by Hessenthaler. Hessenthaler then moved to third off a Menscer bunt single before Menscer herself got into scoring position off a stolen base. An RBI single from Grant pushed a run home for the Phoenix with both runners reaching scoring position on the play with Murray coming to the plate. The Marvin, N.C., native hit a triple off the right field wall, scoring two more runs to push the Phoenix's advantage to 7-0. Carley Davis would end the game on the next at bat with a single through the left side as Murray crossed the dish to enable the Phoenix's 8-0 victory via run-rule.
 
ON DECK
The Phoenix returns to the field tomorrow for the final day of its series against the Dragons hosting a doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m. with the second game starting 45 minutes afterward. Prior to game one, Elon will host its Senior Day ceremonies and honor its class of Schaal and Meredith Wells.