Troy L. Sayles

Softball 2/9/2026 11:04:00 AM Elon Athletics

Phoenix Set For Road Contest At Charlotte

Elon Travels To Charlotte, Seeking First Win Of Season

UPDATE (Monday, Feb. 9 at 4:12 pm): Elon's softball game against Charlotte on Tuesday, Feb. 10, will now take place in Charlotte at 4:30 p.m. at Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium, due to impacts from the winter weather at Elon's home field at Hunt Softball Park.

ELON – The Elon softball team continues its road schedule Tuesday as the Phoenix (0-3) travels Charlotte (3-2) at Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

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Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Watch: TBA

SERIES HISTORY

Elon and Charlotte will meet for the 35^th time Tuesday, with the 49ers holding a 22-12 advantage in the all-time series dating back to 1998 in Elon's fastpitch era (since 1990).
The 49ers have won four straight meetings, including a 9-2 decision last season in Charlotte.
The Phoenix last win in the series came in 2016, earning a 6-5 walk-off victory at Hunt Softball Park.

LAST TIME OUT

The Phoenix opened the 2026 season at the UNC Tournament in Chapel Hill after winter weather forced adjustments to the original opening-weekend schedule at Hunt Softball Park.
Elon went 0-3 against the field of Saint Joseph's, James Madison and North Carolina.
Sophomore Lani Wyrick was a bright spot for the Phoenix, batting .600 over the three games while scoring three runs and adding a double.

AROUND THE HORN

Elon is in its 49^th season of competitive softball, the 37^th fastpitch season and the 27^th at the Division I level.
The Phoenix returns 13 letterwinners and five starters from last season. In the circle, the Phoenix returns three pitchers with experience in juniors Anna Dew, Lia Miller and Kyra Leonard.
Elon welcomes nine newcomers to the 2026 roster (six freshmen, three transfers). All nine players – Brooke Camacho, Allie Dawson, Reili Gardner, Abbie Gaynor, Jenna Klein, Christina Piotrowski, Emily Settle, Julia Tamulski and Chana Wolfe – saw action at the UNC Tournament
Head coach Kathy Bocock is in her 15^th season leading the Phoenix. The winningest coach in program history, Bocock owns 354 wins at Elon and 589 career victories over 29 seasons as a head coach.

SCOUTING CHARLOTTE

Charlotte opened the season 3-2 at the FGCU Kickoff Classic with wins over FGCU, Ball State and LIU.
The 49ers went 30-27 overall and 17-10 in American Athletic Conference play in 2025, finishing third in the league. Charlotte was picked to finish fourth in the 2026 American Preseason Poll.
Offensively, three players are batting .300 or better, led by Jenna Lord and her .375 average. Lord, the reigning American Conference Player of the Year, also has one of Charlotte's three home runs this season.
In the circle, Charlotte has used three pitchers, with the staff posting a 3.65 team ERA with 24 strikeouts and 12 walks.
Courtney Breault is in her second season as the head coach at Charlotte. She helped lead the 49ers to their sixth consecutive winning season in 2025 and their fifth straight season with 30-plus wins.

PRESEASON PRAISE

Elon had three players named to the 2026 Preseason All-CAA Team, as announced by the league office on Jan. 27. Chloe Hatzopoulos, Greta Hessenthaler and Kayla Wilson earned preseason recognition, while the Phoenix was also selected as the favorite to win the league's newly formed South Division.
Hatzopoulos returns as Elon's leader in home runs (11), runs scored (41) and RBI (34). The Huntersville, N.C., native batted .295 last season, earned All-CAA Second Team honors and was named to the league's All-Tournament Team after returning from injury. The redshirt senior claimed one of four outfield spots on the preseason team.
Hessenthaler provides another key returning offensive presence after earning All-CAA First Team honors as a sophomore. The Liberty, N.C., native batted .354 while starting at second base, scoring 38 runs and recording 56 hits, including seven doubles. She also paced the Phoenix with 32 walks, added two triples and reached base safely in 34 consecutive games.
Wilson earned Preseason All-CAA honors as a utility/non-pitcher after being named to the league's All-Rookie Team last season. The Graham, N.C., native batted .319 in 32 games with three doubles and eight RBI, highlighted by a game-winning RBI single in Elon's 5-4 victory at Delaware.
Coming off its first-ever CAA Tournament championship, Elon was selected as the South Division favorite with four first-place votes and 23 points. Campbell finished second with 20 points and one first-place vote, followed by UNCW (17), Charleston (15, one first-place vote), N.C. A&T (8) and Hampton (7).

STAY POSTED

For further coverage of Elon Softball, follow the Phoenix on X (@ElonSoftball) and Instagram (@elonsoftball).

ON DECK

The Phoenix will host the Elon Softball Invitational beginning Thursday through Sunday. Elon will face Mount St. Mary's, Manhattan and Dayton in five games across the four-day event.

-- ELON --

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Players Mentioned

#15 Anna Dew: P; 5' 8"; Junior; R/R

#5 Chloe Hatzopoulos: OF; 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#8 Greta Hessenthaler: MI/3B; 5' 1"; Junior; L/R

#11 Kyra Leonard: P/1B; 5' 6"; Junior; L/L

#23 Lia Miller: P/1B; 5' 9"; Junior; R/R

#14 Kayla Wilson: UT; 5' 2"; Sophomore; R/R

#1 Lani Wyrick: MI/OF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#28 Abbie Gaynor: P/IF; 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R

#9 Emily Settle: 3B/SS; 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R

#4 Julia Tamulski: OF; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#15 Anna Dew
: 5' 8"; Junior; R/R
: P

#5 Chloe Hatzopoulos
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: OF

#8 Greta Hessenthaler
: 5' 1"; Junior; L/R
: MI/3B

#11 Kyra Leonard
: 5' 6"; Junior; L/L
: P/1B

#23 Lia Miller
: 5' 9"; Junior; R/R
: P/1B

#14 Kayla Wilson
: 5' 2"; Sophomore; R/R
: UT

#1 Lani Wyrick
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: MI/OF

#28 Abbie Gaynor
: 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R
: P/IF

#9 Emily Settle
: 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R
: 3B/SS

#4 Julia Tamulski
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: OF