ELON – Junior Anna Dew matched her career-high with 10 strikeouts as the Elon softball team defeated North Carolina A&T, 5-2, to open CAA play on Friday at Hunt Softball Park.
 
The win improved the Phoenix to 5-15 overall and 1-0 in league play, while the Aggies fell to 11-13 overall and 0-1 in the CAA.
 
In the Circle

• Dew matched her career-high with 10 strikeouts for the second time this season, improving to 4-3 on the year.
• The Harrisburg, N.C., native scattered three hits and two runs in her complete-game effort.

 
At the Plate

• The Phoenix recorded seven hits at the plate, driving in five runs and drawing seven walks. Chloe Hatzopoulos (2-for-2) and Lani Wyrick (2-for-4) led Elon with multi-hit games and each drove in a run.
• Freshman Christina Piotrowski led the Phoenix with two RBI while adding a double. Reili Gardner drew a pair of walks.

 
The Rundown
The Phoenix loaded the bases with one out in the first before Chloe Hatzopoulos drove in the first run of the contest with an RBI single up the middle. The Aggies limited the damage to just one run as the next two batters popped up to leave the bases loaded.
 
The Aggies tied the game in the top of the fourth. North Carolina A&T had a runner reach on a one-out single before scoring on an RBI double into left center. The Phoenix induced the next two outs to end the frame with the score knotted at 1-1.
 
Elon loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fourth looking to break the tie. The Aggies recorded the first two outs of the inning, but the Phoenix kept the inning alive with a walk, a single and a fielder's choice to load the bases. However, Elon struck out to leave the runners stranded to end the inning.
 
The Maroon and Gold retook the lead in the home half of the fifth. Elon had two runners reach with one out as Jenna Klein singled to right center and advanced to second on an error. The Phoenix's lead runner was tagged out on the play for the second out. Elon moved back in front on an RBI single up the middle from Mary Moss Wirt, scoring Payton Swart, who reentered for Klein at second.
 
Elon added to its lead with two outs in the fifth. Peyton Fitzpatrick drew a walk before Piotrowski stepped into the batter's box as a pinch hitter. The rookie swung at the first pitch she saw and sent a double to center field, scoring two runs. Gardner replaced Piotrowski at second and later scored the Phoenix's fourth run of the inning, giving the hosts a 5-1 lead.
 
North Carolina A&T cut Elon's lead to three after scoring a run in the sixth. That would be the final blemish for Dew and the Phoenix as the hurler closed out the final frame with a 1-2-3 inning, including strikeouts No. 9 and 10, to secure the 5-2 Elon victory.
 
On Deck
Elon returns to action for game two of the series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.