CLEMSON, S.C. – Sophomore Lia Miller of the Elon University softball team struck out a career-best seven batters as the Phoenix defeated Villanova, 4-3, on the second day at the Clemson Classic on Saturday morning, Feb. 22 at McWhorter Stadium.
 
The win improves the Phoenix's ledger to 4-7 while Villanova falls to 5-6 on the season.
 
In the Circle
• In her second start of the year, Miller set a new personal-best for batters struck out in her complete-game effort to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Allendale, N.J., native allowed four hits and two earned runs against the Wildcats.
 
At the Plate
• Elon registered eight hits in the contest, its best offensive performance so far at the tournament. Peyton Fitzpatrick also had a career day as the sophomore was 2-of-3 with an RBI for the Phoenix. Allee Seering also drove in a run while Kaitlyn Wells had a double, her second of the season.
 
The Rundown
• Elon scored in the top of the second to take an early lead. Gabi Schaal reached on a leadoff single and advanced on the bases on a sac bunt and a wild pitch. Peyton Fitzpatrick singled up the middle to drive Schaal in and give the Phoenix a 1-0 advantage.
• Elon's lead would go away in the bottom of the third. Villanova tied the game on a sac fly before taking the lead on a two-out single through the right side to go ahead 2-1.
• The Phoenix tied the game in the top of the fifth. Chloe Hatzopoulos led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch with one out. Seering drove her home on a single through the right side to knot the game at 2-all.
• Elon retook the lead in the top of the seventh thanks to a Villanova error. Greta Hessenthaler singled to open the frame before she was replaced on the bases by Lani Wyrick. On the next at bat, Seering reached on a fielder's choice, but an errant throw to second allowed both her and Wyrick to come home as the Phoenix went up 4-2.
• The Phoenix got into a jam in the bottom of the seventh. Villanova got the tying runs on base and in scoring position with no outs after a leadoff single and an Elon error. Miller struck out the next batter for the first out in the inning before the Wildcats scored on a grounder to second to cut the Phoenix's lead to one, 4-3. Miller however induced the final out with her seventh strikeout as Elon held on for the win.
 
On Deck
Elon is back on the diamond for the third and final day of the Clemson Classic on Sunday, Feb. 23. The game time and the opponent for the Phoenix tomorrow will be announced at a later time after the conclusion of today's games at the tournament.