BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Elon University softball team outlasted College of Charleston, 4-3, in its opening game at the 2025 CAA Softball Championships on Thursday afternoon, May 8, at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium at Campbell University.
 
The Phoenix (30-18) earned its fourth win of the season over the Cougars (31-24) while earning its first win at the league tournament since 2022. Elon also increased its win streak over Charleston to seven games.
 
At the Plate
• Elon had seven hits at the dish, all by seven different players. Four players – Greta Hessenthaler, Allee Seering, Kaitlyn Wells and Kayla Wilson – all drove in a run to show off the Phoenix's depth in its lineup. Wells added her 51^st RBI of the season, continuing to expand her single-season program record.
 
In the Circle
• McKenna McCard took the win in the circle for the Phoenix, improving to 13-3 on the season. The Ashburn, Ga., native allowed one run in 4.0 innings with a strikeout. Her 13 wins are the most for an Elon pitcher since Abby Barker had 19 in 2019.
• Anna Dew received the save in relief, her first of the season. The sophomore allowed no earned runs in her 2.0 frames and had a strikeout in the contest.
 
The Rundown
• The Phoenix got into a pickle in the top of the second with the Cougars threatening. Charleston had a runner on with two outs before she moved to third on a single into left field. The Cougars attempted to bait the Phoenix into a rundown between first and second, but Elon's defense quickly tagged out the runner to prevent the scoring run.
• Charleston would strike first on the scoreboard in the top of the third. The Cougars had their first two batters retired before staying alive on a single up the middle. A double into center field plated the first run of the contest as CofC took a 1-0 lead.
• Elon was able to respond to tie things up in the home half of the third. Lani Wyrick reached on a leadoff single and then moved to third after a sac bunt. The Phoenix lined out on the next at bat, leaving Wyrick in danger of being stranded, but a timely hit into shallow right by Wells moved Wyrick home to tie the game at 1-all.
• In the bottom of the fourth, it was Elon's turn to have a two-out rally. The Phoenix had runners reach scoring position with one out before a strikeout induced out No. 2 in the frame with the top of the lineup coming up. After working a 1-1 count, Hessenthaler hit a sharp liner to third base, allowing the Phoenix to break the tie off the RBI. Elon added its second run of the frame on a fielder's choice with Seering providing the RBI on the play.
• A solo home run by Charleston in the top of the fifth trimmed the Phoenix's lead to one, 3-2, but Elon answered with a run of its own to get back its two-run lead cushion. Elon loaded the bases with two outs with Wilson stepping into the batter's box. The freshman worked a full count before receiving a free pass to add Elon's fourth run of the game and take a 4-2 advantage.
• Dew and the Phoenix got into a jam in the top of the seventh as the Cougars looked to rally. Dew retired the first batter, but Charleston loaded the bases with its next three batters. Elon would force a groundout for the second out, but Charleston scored on the play to make it a one-run game. Dew would be able to finagle herself out of the jam, punctuating the Phoenix's 4-3 win with a strikeout for the final out.
 
On Deck
• Elon returns to the diamond tomorrow, May 9, facing host and No. 4 seed Campbell with game time scheduled for a noon start.