GREENSBORO – Behind a historic performance in the circle from junior Anna Dew, the Elon softball team secured an 8-0 run-rule victory over Charleston Southern on Saturday as Dew tossed the fourth perfect game in program history at the Elon-UNCG Tournament.
 
The win improved the Phoenix to 4-12 overall while Charleston Southern fell to 4-17.
 
In the Circle

• Dew moved to 3-2 with her historic performance in the circle versus the Buccaneers. The Harrisburg, North Carolina, native struck out six batters in her perfect outing, needing just 79 pitches.
• Dew became the first Elon pitcher to toss a perfect game since Taylor Cherry versus East Carolina on March 6, 2022. 

At the Plate

• The Phoenix provided Dew with more than enough offensive support, registering 11 hits in the contest. Mauri Murray and Payton Swart both led Elon with two hits apiece.
• Murray made her first start of the season and went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Swart also added an RBI and recorded her fourth double of the season.

The Rundown
The Phoenix overcame a slow start offensively, as Elon was held without a hit until the third inning. Dew, however, kept the Maroon and Gold out of danger, striking out the side in the top of the third as the contest remained scoreless.
 
Elon's offense came alive in the bottom of the fourth. Lani Wyrick reached on a leadoff single and stole second and third to move into scoring position. Murray followed with a one-out single up the middle, driving in Wyrick for the first run of the game. The Phoenix recorded the second out of the frame on a fielder's choice, but kept the inning alive with an RBI double from Mary Moss Wirt and an RBI single from Julia Tamulski to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
Murray added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Marvin, North Carolina, native singled through the right side with one out, driving home Swart and Wyrick. Hatzopoulos later came through with an RBI single to give the Phoenix a 6-0 lead after five complete innings.
 
The Phoenix closed out the game in the home half of the sixth. Swart drove in a run on a sacrifice fly before Kayla Wilson ended the contest with an RBI double to left-center, scoring the eighth run of the game to secure the run-rule victory and Dew's perfect game.
 
On Deck
Elon returns to action this evening against host UNCG at 5:30 p.m. The game will also stream on ESPN+.