ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team heads to South Carolina to participate at the Clemson Classic this weekend, Feb. 21-23. The Phoenix (3-5) opens the tournament versus Marshall on Friday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at McWhorter Stadium.
 
SCHEDULE (Elon games only)
• Elon vs. Marshall, Friday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m.
• Elon at Clemson, Friday, Feb. 21 at 12:30 p.m.
• Elon vs. Villanova, Saturday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m.
• Elon vs. TBD, Sunday, Feb. 22 at TBD
 
FOLLOW THE PHOENIX
• Live stats will be available for the tournament by going to the team's schedule page at elonphoenix.com.
• Only Elon's game versus Clemson on Friday will be streamed via the ACC Network Extra.
• For more information on the Phoenix, follow the program's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram at @elonsoftball.
 
LAST TIME THEY MET
Marshall: The Phoenix will face the Thundering Herd for the fourth time on Friday. Marshall holds a 2-1 lead over Elon in the all-time series with the two teams last meeting in 2023 at the Liberty Classic. Marshall took the win over the Phoenix, 7-3.
Clemson: Elon and Clemson have only met three times going into the tournament. The Tigers have won the previous three contests, with all the games coming in 2021 at the Clemson Classic with the Phoenix being outscored 21-0.
Villanova: The Wildcats and the Phoenix are facing each other for the third time in their series history with the ledger deadlocked at 1-1. Villanova defeated Elon in the most recent meeting last year, 7-6, in extras at the Duke Tournament.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• Elon hosted NC State on Tuesday night, Feb. 18, to close out its eight-game homestand to start the season. The Wolfpack earned a 4-0 victory over the maroon and gold, its seventh straight win over the Phoenix.
• Allee Seering went 3-of-3 in the game for Elon, posting her fifth multi-hit game of the season. Taylor Cherry had three strikeouts in 3.0 innings in relief for the maroon and gold.
 
 
AROUND THE HORN
• Seering is one of three players in the Phoenix's lineup hitting north of .300 and one of two batting .400 or better with her .464 average. Kaitlyn Wells is second on the team with her .417 average with both players combining for 14 RBI and five homers between them.
• Greta Hessenthaler is hitting .333 on the young season and has one of the Phoenix's two triples on the year. Gabi Schaal and Chloe Hatzopoulos are both hitting .280 with two homers each with Schaal leading the team with her eight RBI.
• In the circle, Elon's staff has a 3.82 ERA in 55.0 innings pitched while striking out 30 batters. McKenna McCard leads the way with 15.2 innings pitched with a 1-1 record and an ERA of 1.79. She also has nine strikeouts compared to one walk. Isley Duggins is 1-0 with a team-low 1.58 ERA in her 13.1 frames including one save.
• As a team, the Phoenix ranks 26^th in the country in home runs per game at 1.25. Elon is 33^rd overall in homers with 10 in the NCAA while leading the CAA in both categories.
 
PRESEASON PRAISE
• Elon had four members of its program recognized on the 2025 Preseason All-CAA Softball Team as announced by the league office on Jan. 31. Fifth-year Gabi Schaal, senior McKenna McCard and junior Mauri Murray were selected to the Preseason All-CAA Team in their respective positions. Senior Allee Seering was an honorable mention nod.
• Schaal was a Second Team All-CAA choice last season as the Lakeland, Fla, native led the CAA in home runs with 11 and finished third in the league with 38 RBI. She finished in the top 10 of the CAA in slugging percentage (.556).
• Murray was selected to the All-CAA First Team after leading the team in batting average (.361) and slugging percentage (.583). The Marvin, N.C., native notched 52 hits in 144 at-bats while scoring 32 runs with eight homers and 33 RBI while ranking in the top-10 of the CAA in several categories. She also earned NFCA Mid-Atlantic Third Team All-Region honors.
• McCard served as the Phoenix's ace in the circle, leading the Phoenix in appearances (30), starts (21), complete games (11) and innings pitched (122.0). The Ashburn, Ga., native posted a 2.52 ERA while also striking out a team-high 85 batters while posting four shutouts on the season.
• Seering was named to the All-CAA Second Team during her junior campaign last season. The Waxhaw, N.C., native led the Phoenix with 40 RBI and 15 stolen bases and was second on the squad in doubles (12) and hits (49).
 
RETURNING PHOENIX
• Outside of the four preseason All-CAA honorees, the Phoenix returns several key players in 2025, including starters Greta Hessenthaler (second base), Kaitlyn Wells (outfield) and Reagan Hartley (outfield). Hessenthaler was a CAA All-Rookie team choice last season while Wells was third on the team with six home runs. Hartley finished third on the program with 11 stolen bases.
• In the circle, Elon returns 100 percent of its pitching staff last season. Along with McCard, the Phoenix welcomes back the arms of Taylor Cherry, Meredith Wells, Isley Duggins, Michael Hobson, Kyra Leonard, Anna Dew and Lia Miller.
 
CALL HER COACH CAR
• Elon added a familiar face to its coaching staff this summer as Carley Davis begins her first season as an assistant coach on head coach Kathy Bocock's staff in 2025.
• Davis concluded her career with the Phoenix last spring, spending most of her time as a starter behind the plate. She appeared in 197 career games with 194 starts for the maroon and gold and was a two-time All-CAA Second Team selection. A native of Bridgewater, Va., Davis finished her career as Elon's all-time Division I leader in runners caught stealing with 37. This past season, Davis hit a career-best .312 with four homers and 24 RBI.
• Along with Davis, Bocock also made another staff change with the elevation of Sophia Devesa to a full-time assistant and recruiting coordinator after Devesa spent her first season as a volunteer for the Phoenix in 2024. Devesa was part of a staff that helped mentor the Phoenix batters to hit .270 last season, Elon's highest batting average since 2018. The Phoenix's offense was also second in the CAA in runs scored with 252 while its 34 home runs were a league best.
 
2024 RECAP
• Elon finished last season with a 23-29 ledger and a 17-10 mark during CAA play. The 17 league wins mark the most for the program since joining the league as the Phoenix reached the CAA Softball Championships for the fifth straight season (excluding the canceled 2020 COVID-19 season).
• Among the notable accomplishments for the Phoenix last season included Elon head coach Kathy Bocock earning her 300^th career win with the program. Bocock, who is the Phoenix's all-time career wins leader, earned the milestone versus North Dakota State at the Marucci Classic.
• The Phoenix had five players received All-CAA recognition last season. Sophomore Mauri Murray received All-CAA First Team laurels while fifth-year Carley Davis, redshirt junior Gabi Schaal and junior Allee Seering were placed on the league's Second Team. Freshman Greta Hessenthaler rounded out the All-CAA Phoenix honorees with her spot in the All-Rookie Team.
• Schaal also received some hardware for her work both on and off the field as she was named the softball recipient of the 2023-24 Coastal Athletic Association's Leadership and Sport Excellence Award.
• Megan Grant became the program's all-time career leader in walks at the Division I level. The Vinton, Va., native retired after last season with 125 career free passes to her name.
 
ON DECK
• Elon travels to North Carolina for its first true road game of the season next Wednesday, Feb. 26. Game time between the Phoenix and the Tar Heels is scheduled for 6 p.m.