COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Elon University softball team continues its postseason run, opening play in the NCAA Tournament at the Columbia Regional as the Phoenix (33-19) face host and No. 8 seed South Carolina (40-15) on Friday, May 16 at Carolina Stadium at Beckham Field.
 
Elon and South Carolina are joined at the Columbia Regional this weekend by North Florida (45-13) and Virginia (37-17).
 
COLUMBIA REGIONAL COMPLETE SCHEDULE
May 16
3:00 PM – North Florida vs. Virginia
5:30 PM – Elon vs. South Carolina
 
May 17
1:00 PM - Game 1 Winner vs Game 2 Winner
3:30 PM – Game 1 Loser vs Game 2 Loser
6:00 PM – Game 3 Loser vs Game 4 Winner
 
May 18
1:00 PM – Game 3 Winner vs Game 5 Winner
3:30 PM (if necessary) – Game 6 Winner vs Game 6 Loser
 
FOLLOW THE PHOENIX
• Each game from this weekend will stream on ESPN+ with Alex Loeb (PxP) and Cat Osterman (analyst) on the call.
• Live stats will be available for the regional by going to the team's schedule page at elonphoenix.com.
• For more information on the Phoenix, follow the program's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram at @elonsoftball.
 
SERIES HISTORIES AND LAST TIME THEY MET
• South Carolina: Elon and South Carolina have played four times all-time on the softball diamond. The Gamecocks hold a 3-1 all-time advantage over the maroon and gold and have won two straight in the series. The Phoenix fell to South Carolina, 14-1, the last time to two teams met in 2021 in Chapel Hill. Elon's last visit to Columbia came in 2020 when the Phoenix narrowly lost to the hosts 3-0.
North Florida: Elon and North Florida last played each other in 1997, two years prior to Elon transitioning to Division I. The series is tied at 1-1.
• Virginia: Going into the weekend, Elon and Virginia have faced each other 14 times with the Cavaliers holding an 11-3 lead all-time in the series. The Phoenix hosted Virginia in 2019 in the last meeting versus the two schools, with the Cavaliers coming away with a 7-3 win.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Phoenix captured its first CAA Tournament title after winning four games at the league championships last weekend, including winning a pair of games versus host Campbell last Saturday. Elon, who was the No. 2 seed at the tournament, defeated No. 3 seed Charleston, No. 1 seed Delaware and No. 4 seed Campbell for its first conference tournament title of any kind since 2010.
• Kaitlyn Wells was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after the Roswell, Ga., native led the Phoenix at the plate with a .429 average (6-of-14) with a home run and eight RBI. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Chloe Hatzopoulos, Allee Seering and Meredith Wells.
• Meredith Wells went 2-0 at the tournament and recorded a save for the Phoenix as she posted a 1.17 ERA in 12.0 innings of action. As a team, the Phoenix pitching staff had a 2.00 ERA with five arms seeing time toeing the rubber.
 
ELON AT THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
• The Phoenix is making its second-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament during its Division I era (since 1999-2000). Elon last reached the national tournament in 2010 after winning the Southern Conference Tournament championship and traveled to the Athens Regional in Georgia.
• Current Phoenix head coach Kathy Bocock was an assistant coach the last time the maroon and gold reached the NCAA Tournament in 2010. She would remain as an assistant coach for the following season before taking the reins of the program in 2012.
 
KAITLYN WELLS, MCCARD EARN ALL-REGION HONORS
• On Thursday, May 15, Kaitlyn Wells and McKenna McCard earned NFCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region honors. Wells was placed on the second team while McCard received third team laurels.
• Wells is the Phoenix's leader in several offensive categories including batting average (.417), hits (68), slugging percentage (.785), home runs (16) and RBI (58).
• Likewise, McCard paces the Phoenix in a few pitching categories, including ERA (1.98), innings (102.2), strikeouts (84) and wins (13). Both players were All-CAA honorees during the regular season.
 
AROUND THE HORN
• As a team, Elon is batting .294 while scoring 296 runs with 41 home runs and 250 RBI. The Phoenix's 296 runs are the most for the program since scoring 293 runs in 2010, while its 41 homers are the most since the maroon and gold had 44 dingers in 2019. Overall, the Phoenix is 66^th in the country in runs per game at 5.69.
• Kaitlyn Wells leads the Phoenix with her .417 batting average. The Roswell, Ga., native broke the program's single-season school record in RBI (58) and home runs (16) during her outstanding senior campaign. Her 128 total bases are also the most for a player in school history at the Division I level, while her 68 total hits are the eighth-most for Elon in a single-season and the most since Kara Shutt had 74 during her All-American campaign in 2018.
• Greta Hessenthaler is second to Wells on the team in batting average (.355) and on-base percentage (.479). The Liberty, N.C., native is fourth in the CAA in walks (32) while accounting for 54 hits, a team-best two triples with 19 RBI. During the year, Hessenthaler reached base in 34 straight games, at one point the longest active streak in the nation.
• Allee Seering is batting .343 on the season and is second to Wells on the team with 59 hits. She has also accounted for six doubles, three home runs and 31 RBI. Seering ranks in the top 10 of the CAA in hits and stolen bases, as her 17 swiped bags lead the Phoenix.
• Elon's pitching staff has posted a 3.65 cumulative ERA this season in 341.0 innings of action. The Phoenix hurlers have accounted for 229 strikeouts compared to 173 walks. As a team, opposing hitters are batting .267 versus Elon.
• McCard has been the Phoenix's ace in the circle most of the season, leading the team in ERA (1.98), opposing batting average (.228), innings pitched (102.2), strikeouts (84), and wins (13).
 
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.
 
ON DECK
• With a win on Friday, Elon will continue into the winner's bracket on Saturday and face the winner between North Florida and Virginia with that game scheduled for 1 p.m. A Phoenix loss will put the maroon and gold into an elimination game versus the loser between Ospreys and the Cavaliers, with that contest scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start.