ELON – The Elon softball team opens CAA play this weekend as the Phoenix (4-15) hosts longtime Piedmont Triad rival North Carolina A&T (11-12) for a three-game series from Friday through Sunday at Hunt Softball Park.
 
WEEKEND SCHEDULE

• Friday, March 6 – 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 7 – 2 p.m.
• Sunday, March 8 – 1 p.m.

 
FOLLOW THE PHOENIX

• Live Stats: Statbroadcast
• Watch: FloCollege (Friday and Sunday only)

 
SERIES HISTORY

• Longtime I-40 rivals since 1991 in Elon's fastpitch era (since 1990), the Phoenix and the Aggies have squared off 65 times entering this weekend's series. N.C. A&T serves as Elon's second-most faced opponent in program history behind UNCG.
• The Phoenix swept the Aggies in Greensboro last season, improving to 9-0 since becoming CAA foes in 2023 while extending its overall win streak to 18 games. As a team, Elon batted .407 versus the Lady Aggies and had eight players hit better than .300.
• Greta Hessenthaler was one of the top bats for the Phoenix last season at N.C. A&T, hitting .600 in the three-game set. Chloe Hatzopoulos tied for the team lead with two homers and drove in eight RBI.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• Elon traveled to NC State on Tuesday for an early-week contest versus the Wolfpack. The hosts got off to a fast start with a six-run bottom of the first, en route to a 14-2 victory over the Phoenix.
• Hatzopoulos had two of the Phoenix's six hits versus the Wolfpack. The redshirt senior hit her second home run of the season and the 28th of her career in the contest, moving her into sole possession of fourth all-time in school history.
• Payton Swart also had a pair of hits for the Phoenix while Brooke Camacho drove in her first career RBI in the top of the fourth.

 
CAA EXCELLENCE

• Over the past two seasons, Elon has posted a record of 38-16 in CAA play, finishing second in the regular-season standings last season and fifth in 2024. The Phoenix ranks second to Campbell in total league wins among current CAA schools.
• The Phoenix has swept the opening series of the CAA season in each of the past three years. Last year, Elon swept Hofstra in a three-game set at Hunt Softball Park en route to a program-best 21 CAA wins, the most conference wins in school history.
• This season, the CAA will play a division format as Elon and N.C. A&T reside in the South Division. As divisional opponents, the Phoenix and the Aggies will face each other twice in a home-and-home format.

 
AROUND THE HORN

• Elon is slashing .235/.338/.340 on the season, totaling 69 runs scored with 28 extra-base hits and 57 RBI.
• Hatzopoulos is hitting a team-high .321 among the Phoenix regulars. The Huntersville, N.C., native has 17 hits on the year, including at least one hit in five of Elon's past six games.
• Hessenthaler (13), Teagan Baulsir (13) and Swart (10) are the other Phoenix players with double-digit hits. Baulsir and Hatzopoulos are tied for the team lead in home runs (two) and RBI (nine). Baulsir has drawn a team-best 11 walks on the year.
• Lani Wyrick ranks second behind Baulsir in walks with 10 and leads the Phoenix in stolen bases, going 6-for-6 in swiped bags. The sophomore also leads the CAA in defensive assists with 46 and ranks 54th nationally.
• Junior Anna Dew is the Phoenix's leader in innings (40.2), ERA (3.96), complete games (three) and strikeouts (40). Her 40 strikeouts currently rank fourth in the CAA while the Harrisburg, N.C., native is fifth in the league in strikeouts per seven innings (7.1).Elon is in its 49th season of competitive softball, the 37th fastpitch season and the 27th at the Division I level.

• Head coach Kathy Bocock is in her 15th season leading the Phoenix. The winningest coach in program history, Bocock has 358 wins at Elon and 593 career victories across 29 seasons as a head coach.

 
SCOUTING NC A&T

• The Aggies head into the weekend with an 11-12 record, one shy of tying their win total from all of last season. N.C. A&T is coming off an 11-2 setback versus Boston College on Tuesday, snapping its four-game win streak.
• At the plate, the Aggies are slashing .270/.416/.347 with 121 runs scored. Sophomore Aniya Merritt is hitting a team-best .393 as the only regular hitting .300 or better. Junior Jamari Moss has team highs in home runs (six), RBI (24) and doubles (seven).
• The Aggies' pitching staff has a 5.18 ERA in 143.1 innings while striking out 119 batters compared to 85 walks. Three players have tallied 30 or more innings with junior Aaliyah Williams leading the way at 55.1. The Savannah, Ga., native is 4-2 on the year with a 3.16 ERA and 52 strikeouts.

 
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).

 
ON DECK

• The Phoenix steps back into nonconference play next week, hosting Virginia Tech on Wednesday. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will stream on FloCollege.

 
STAY POSTED

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