ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team welcomes UNCW for its final home series this weekend, April 25-27, at Hunt Softball Park. The three-game CAA set between the Phoenix (25-16, 17-4 CAA) and the Seahawks (24-20, 10-11 CAA) begins on Friday at 5 p.m.
 
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Game 1 – Friday, April 25 at 5 p.m.
Game 2 – Saturday, April 26 at 2 p.m.
Game 3 – Sunday, April 27 at 1 p.m. (Senior Day)
 
FOLLOW THE PHOENIX
• Live stats will be available for the series 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.
 
SENIOR DAY
• The team will honor its eight-person Senior Class of Taylor Cherry, Isley Duggins, Reagan Hartley, Chloe Hatzopoulos, Michael Hobson, McKenna McCard, Allee Seering and Kaitlyn Wells with a pregame recognition on Sunday.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• In-state rivals since 1990, Elon leads the all-time series over UNCW 22-21. The Seahawks however have won the past four matchups over the Phoenix.
• Last season, UNCW swept the Phoenix in Wilmington in its three-game series during the regular season. The two teams later faced each other in the opening round of the CAA tournament at UNCW with the Seahawks handing the maroon and gold a 5-2 setback.
• The Phoenix won two out of three the last time the two teams played in Elon in 2023.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• Elon suffered a 9-2 setback at Charlotte on Tuesday night, April 22. The 49ers used a five-run bottom of the second to help earn their fourth straight win over the Phoenix.
• After Charlotte took a 3-0 lead after the first, the Phoenix scored a pair of runs in the top of the second to cut into its deficit. The 49ers however responded with its five-run frame to go ahead 8-2.
• Elon had six hits in the game with Kaitlyn Wells going 2-of-3 at the dish to pace the Phoenix offensively. Lani Wyrick added two RBI for the maroon and gold, a new season-high for the freshman.
 
McCARD NAMED CAA CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK
• Senior McKenna McCard was named the CAA Co-Pitcher of the Week as announced on Monday afternoon, April 21. It is the first CAA weekly award for McCard this season and the third overall for the Phoenix in 2025.
• McCard struck out a career-high 15 batters versus N.C. A&T in the opening game of the series last Friday. The Ashburn, Ga., native allowed no earned runs in the complete-game effort while posting Elon's highest strikeout total since Erin O'Shea also had 15 in 2011. The 15 strikeouts are also the most in a single-game this season in the CAA.
 
AROUND THE HORN
• Elon is tied for second in the CAA standings with Delaware with its 17-4 record as both squads remain a game behind Campbell with six league games to go heading into the week.
• As a team, Elon is batting .303 while scoring 248 runs with 37 home runs and 208 RBI. The Phoenix ranks third in the CAA in runs scored and is second in the league in home runs. The Phoenix sits second overall in the CAA in slugging percentage (.456) and is only one of eight teams to convert a triple play this season in the NCAA.
• Kaitlyn Wells leads the Phoenix with her .414 batting average. The senior is the Phoenix's leader in home runs with 14, which is second in the CAA. The Roswell, Ga., native leads the CAA with 49 RBI and is also second in the league in slugging percentage (.812) and OPS (1.278). She is also fourth in the CAA in batting average and hits (55). Wells set the single-season school record in RBI versus North Carolina A&T last weekend, surpassing Carey Million's mark of 48.
• Greta Hessenthaler is second with her .382 batting average and is third on the squad with 47 total hits. Allee Seering is third on the squad with her .357 average and is second on the team in hits with 50. The senior has three homers with 25 RBI while ranking in the top-10 of the CAA in total hits.
• Elon's pitching staff has posted a 4.14 cumulative ERA this season in 267.0 innings of action. The Phoenix hurlers have accounted for 184 strikeouts compared to 146 walks.
• McCard leads the Phoenix in innings pitched at 73.1 while posting a 2.20 ERA with a 9-3 record and 66 strikeouts. Taylor Cherry is second with 60.1 innings of action and is second to McCard in strikeouts with 41 while posting a 2.55 ERA. Cherry also has one of the Phoenix's two saves on the year along with Isley Duggins.
 
SCOUTING UNCW (24-20, 10-11 CAA)
• The Seahawks come into the weekend with a 24-20 overall ledger and a 10-11 mark in the CAA. UNCW lost its last series versus Stony Brook last weekend, but earned a 5-2 win in the series finale, snapping the Seawolves' 13-game win streak.
• Offensively, UNCW is slashing .288 /.382 /.370 on the season while scoring 201 runs with 14 home runs and 173 RBI. The Seahawks have swiped 132-of-158 bags this season, ranking sixth in the country in stolen bases.
• Madison Biddle leads the team with her .390 average along with seven home runs and 27 RBI. She is one of four players in UNCW's regular lineup hitting .300 or better. Cassidy Relay leads the team in stolen bases with 30 and is second on the squad with her .352 average.
• As a staff, UNCW has a cumulative ERA of 3.39 in 279.0 innings with 187 strikeouts and 114 walks. Sophomore Makayla Huddleston leads the team in innings pitched (107.0), ERA (2.36), strikeouts (84) and appearances (24).  
 
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, Michaela 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 Campbell for its final series of the regular season next week, May 1-3.