WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team saw an opening-inning lead erased due to some miscues in the bottom of the frame as the fifth-seeded Phoenix dropped a 5-2 decision versus No. 4 seed and host UNCW in the opening round of the CAA Softball Championships on Wednesday, May 8 at Boseman Field.
 
The setback dropped Elon's ledger to 23-28 on the season while also giving the Seahawks (30-20) its fourth win of the season versus the Phoenix.
 
AT THE PLATE
• The Phoenix had five hits in the game against the Seahawks, but left six runners on base. Drew Menscer went 2-of-3 at the plate to lead the Phoenix while adding a triple to her stat line. Megan Grant drove in the lone RBI for the maroon and gold while scoring a run.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
• McKenna McCard was given the loss, falling to 11-8 on the season. Meredith Wells pitched 5.2 scoreless inning in relief, striking out a batter.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Elon got on the board early in the opening frame. The Phoenix was able to get a couple of runners on base via walks before a UNCW error allowed Grant to cross the dish to put Elon ahead 1-0. The Phoenix could not add to its lead as the next two batters were retired to turn to the home half of the frame.
• UNCW came back with a five-run bottom of the first to erase its deficit. The Seahawks had a couple of runners reach on singles before taking the lead on a pair of Phoenix errors. A single to center added to UNCW's lead before another run crossed the dish on a wild pitch. An RBI off a fielder's choice plated the fifth run of the frame for the Seahawks, putting the Phoenix in a 5-1 disadvantage.
• The Phoenix was able to get a run back in the top of the third. Menscer was able to take advantage of UNCW using a five-infielder shift by drilling a ball into open space in right field as the graduate student was able to lead off the inning with a triple. She would score on the next at bat via a Grant RBI single to bring the Phoenix within three. A walk to Reagan Hartley gave the Phoenix the tying run at the plate with no outs, but UNCW induced the next three outs on a fielder's choice and a double play.
• Elon once again had a chance to plate some runs in the top of the sixth. Mauri Murray reached on a leadoff single before moving to second on a one-out single by Allee Seering with the tying run back at the plate for the Phoenix. The Seahawks however finagled out of the inning with a strikeout and a groundout to leave the runners stranded.
• The Phoenix had one final chance in the top of the seventh to potentially put some runs on the board. A Menscer single and an error gave the maroon and gold a pair of runners on with the tying run back at the plate. UNCW induced a double play on the next at bat as the Seahawks escaped with the 5-2 win over the maroon and gold.
 
ON DECK
Elon moves to the elimination bracket and will play later this evening around 5 p.m. against the loser between No. 3 seed Stony Brook and No. 4 seed Hofstra. That game will stream on FloSoftball.