ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team opens CAA series play this weekend, March 7-9, versus Hofstra. The three-game set between the Phoenix (7-11, 0-0 CAA) and the Pride (1-13, 0-0 CAA) begins on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Hunt Softball Park.
 
FOLLOW THE PHOENIX
• Live stats will be available for the tournament by going to the team's schedule page at elonphoenix.com.
• The series will stream on FloCollege (FloSoftball via a paid subscription.
• For more information on the Phoenix, follow the program's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram at @elonsoftball.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• Elon and Hofstra have faced each other 21 times going into the weekend. The Pride holds a 14-7 advantage over the maroon and gold in a series going back to 2015.
• The last time the two teams met was at the CAA Tournament last spring in Wilmington, N.C. The Pride eliminated the Phoenix, 6-0, from the tournament. It was the third straight win for Hofstra against the Phoenix.
• Both teams last played in Elon in 2022 with the Pride also winning that series by taking two out of three. Overall, Hofstra is 7-2 all-time against the Phoenix at Hunt Softball Park.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Phoenix played at No. 14 Duke on Tuesday, March 4. The Blue Devils scored 10 unanswered runs in the first three frames, capturing a 10-0 victory. Duke improved its overall record over the Phoenix to 8-1 going back to 2018.
 
KAITLYN WELLS NAMED CAA CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• On Tuesday, March 4, senior Kaitlyn Wells was named the CAA Co-Player of the Week. It was the third CAA weekly award and the Phoenix's first of the season.
• Wells slashed .571/1.286/.611 with five runs scored and seven RBIs in the Phoenix's five games last week. After an RBI against North Carolina, Wells notched a triple and a run scored in Saturday's first game against Sacred Heart. Elon's outfielder surged in the final three games, starting with a 3-for-4 showing at the dish against UNCG and logging a pair of doubles, a run scored and an RBI.
• The Roswell, Ga., native went off for another three-hit showing against Pioneers on Sunday, uncorking a two-run homer and finishing with three RBIs in the game. Wells closed out the weekend with another two-run shot and scored an extra tally against the Spartans.
 
AROUND THE HORN
• As a team, Elon is batting .266 while scoring 77 runs with 15 home runs and 68 RBI. The Phoenix registered a single-game high for hits this season with 14 versus Sacred Heart on Sunday, March 2, its fourth double-digit hitting performance on the year.
• Kaitlyn Wells is one of three players in Elon's regular lineup batting north of .300 with her team-best .396 average. The Roswell, Ga., native leads the team in doubles (six), home runs (five) and RBI (15).
• Allee Seering is second on the squad with her .383 average while pacing the team in overall hits with 23. The senior has three homers with 12 RBI while stealing a team-high four bases. Greta Hessenthaler is the other regular batting over .300 at her .314 average. The sophomore infielder has reached base in all 17 games she has played in this year for the Phoenix.
• Fifth-year Gabi Schaal belted her 30^th career home run last Sunday versus Sacred Heart, becoming the third player in school history to reach 30 or more round trippers behind Elon Hal of Famers, Carleigh Nester (36) and Tomeka Watson (34).
• Elon's pitching staff has posted a 5.17 cumulative ERA this season in 115.0 innings of action. The Phoenix hurlers have accounted for 68 strikeouts compared to 66 walks.
• McKenna McCard leads the Phoenix in innings pitched at 29.1 while posting a 1.91 ERA with a 2-2 record. Taylor Cherry is second with 20.2 innings of action while Isley Duggins has tossed 19.2 frames. McCard leads the team with 20 strikeouts.
 
SCOUTING HOFSTRA
• The Pride comes into the weekend with a 1-13 ledger so far in 2025. Hofstra last played at the Party at Palmer Invitational in Charlottesville, Va., this past weekend, going 1-4 at the tournament. The Pride earned its first win of the season with a 13-12 outing versus Seton Hall last Friday.
• Hofstra is batting .231 on the season while scoring 38 runs with three homers and 34 RBI. The Pride has a .335 slugging percentage and a .303 on-base percentage.
• Alanna Morse leads the team with her .333 batting average as one of two players in the Pride's lineup batting north of .300. Dahlia Palacio is next at her .314 average. Morse has one of the three homers for Hofstra this season along with Chelsea Villar, who has a team-high eight RBI.
• In the circle, Hofstra has a cumulative ERA of 9.86 in 76.2 frames of action. Four pitchers have taken turns toeing the rubber for the pride with Emma Falen pacing the team with her 29.1 innings and 23 strikeouts.
 
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
• The Phoenix travels to Hampton for its next CAA series on March 14-16. The three-game set will stream on FloCollege (FloSoftball).