ELON – Elon (3-11) gave undefeated North Carolina (15-0) a scare at Hunt Softball Park Wednesday night. The Phoenix took the Tar Heels to two extra frames before falling 5-2 in extra innings.
 
At the Plate
Chloe Hatzopoulos was Elon's top hitter of the night, accounting for most of the offense. The graduate posted a three-hit night against the Tar Heels and scored one of Elon's two runs.
 
In the Circle
Chana Wolfe put together a career night in the circle. The senior pitched all nine frames for the Phoenix and fired a career high, 136 pitches. Wolfe surrendered just two runs until the final frame and limited the Tar Heels to just 2-for-9 hitting with runners in scoring position.
 
The Rundown
The Tar Heels took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Elon retired the first two batters of the frame, but a walk kept the inning alive before UNC hit a two-run home run to make it 2-0.
 
The Phoenix got its first baserunners on in the bottom of the second. Chloe Hatzopoulos reached on a one-out single and moved to second on a stolen base. An error moved her to third while Peyton Fitzpatrick reached to put two runners on. Fitzpatrick then stole second to put both runners in scoring position, but a groundout would leave them stranded.
 
Elon responded in the bottom of the third to get on the scoreboard. Allie Dawson reached on an error and advanced to second on the play to lead off the inning. She moved to third on a groundout before scoring on a Lani Wyrick single to right. UNC retired the next two batters to maintain its 2-1 lead.
 
The Phoenix tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Hatzopoulos reached on a leadoff single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout threatened to leave her stranded, Elon knotted the game at 2-2 on another Tar Heel miscue as Hatzopoulos crossed the plate.
 
Both sides would continue to toss zeros on the scoreboard. The Tar Heels and Phoenix held each other in check until the top of the ninth when Carolina pushed three runs across. Elon could not find the offense in the bottom of the ninth and North Carolina prevailed 5-2.
 
On Deck
The Phoenix will co-host the Elon-UNCG Tournament this weekend from Friday through Sunday. Elon will host Indiana on Friday at 3 p.m. before facing Charleston Southern and UNCG in Greensboro for the remainder of the tournament.
 
-- ELON --