NEWARK, Del. – An RBI single from freshman Kayla Wilson in the top of the sixth proved to be the difference as the Elon University softball team rebounded with a 5-4 win over Delaware on Saturday, March 29, in the second game of its CAA series at Delaware Softball Stadium.
 
Elon (17-13, 9-2 CAA) was able to recover from its opening-game setback to the Blue Hens (19-12, 8-3 CAA) yesterday, leveling the series to set up the rubber match tomorrow afternoon. The victory was the Phoenix's first at Delaware since 2001.
 
At the Plate
• The Phoenix had five hits credited in the game with Gabi Schaal leading the charge going 2-of-4 at the dish. Schaal added her sixth homer of the season and the 33^rd of her career and added a double to her stat line. Wilson added the other RBI for the Phoenix on her single in the sixth to give the Phoenix the go-ahead run.
• Greta Hessenthaler went 1-of-3 at the plate as her reach base streak extends to 29 games. Schaal now has 124 RBI in her career, one shy of moving into a tie for second place all-time in school history.
 
In the Circle
• Taylor Cherry (3-3) pitched 4.0 innings in relief for the Phoenix to earn the win. The redshirt junior allowed three runs while striking out four batters in the game.
• Starter Lia Miller pitched 3.0 frames and allowed five hits and one run and had a couple of strikeouts.
 
The Rundown
• The Phoenix scored in the top of the first to strike first on the scoreboard. Elon had its first two batters retired, but Kaitlyn Wells kept the inning alive after she reached on a hit-by-pitch with Schaal coming to the plate. The Lakeland, Fla., native worked a full count until hitting a two-run homer to center field, putting the Phoenix ahead 2-0.
• Elon got another run in the top of the second. Lani Wyrick reached on a fielder's choice and stole second with one out to move into scoring position. A groundout advanced Wyrick to third before a Delaware error enabled her to score and give the Phoenix a 3-0 advantage.
• Delaware answered with a run in the bottom of the third. The Blue Hens loaded the bases with two outs before scoring on an RBI single into left field. Delaware tried to score a second runner on the play, but the relay throw from Chloe Hatzopoulos to catcher Peyton Fitzpatrick at home was on time as the Phoenix made the tag at the dish to escape the inning ahead 3-1.
• The Blue Hens loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fifth to put pressure on the maroon and gold. A hit-by-pitch put ducks on the pond for Delaware with two outs before a shallow hit into right cleared the bases and gave the Blue Hens a 4-3 lead.
• Elon battled back in the top of the sixth. Schaal reached on a one-out double, but the Phoenix was in danger of leaving her stranded after a strikeout was induced on the next play. A Delaware error on the next at bat in right field enabled Schaal to score the tying run while Hatzopoulos took her place at second.
• The Phoenix then made a change at the plate as Wilson came in to pinch hit. The rookie fell behind in the count, 1-2, before hitting a sharp single to center, scoring Hatzopoulos to give the Phoenix the 5-4 lead.
• Delaware looked to tie the game or walk it off in the bottom of the seventh with the top of its lineup due up. The Blue Hens did get the tying run on base on a single with one out before the winning run was also on the bases after a walk. Cherry however induced the final two outs on a flyout and a pop up to secure the Elon win.
 
On Deck
• The rubber match is set to begin at 1 p.m. tomorrow, March 30, with the contest being streamed on FloCollege (FloSoftball).