ELON – The Elon softball team made a late charge in the sixth and seventh innings, but the Phoenix ultimately fell just short in a 3-2 decision versus Stony Brook in the opening game of its CAA series on Friday at Hunt Softball Park.
 
Elon (14-30, 8-11 CAA) nearly erased a three-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth, scoring a pair of runs with two outs in the frame. The Phoenix then put itself in position for the tying run or a walk-off opportunity in the seventh with one out, but came up short against the Seawolves (18-24, 9-10 CAA).
 
At the Plate

• The Phoenix was outhit by the Seawolves, 7-6, with both teams leaving eight runners on base. Chloe Hatzopoulos led Elon at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Payton Swart added the second RBI while also recording a hit.
• Elon drew four walks and struck out five times.

 
In the Circle

• Anna Dew struck out six but took the loss to fall to 10-11 on the year. The Harrisburg, N.C., native allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks.

 
The Rundown
The Phoenix had its first strong scoring opportunity in the bottom of the third inning. Mauri Murray reached on a one-out single before being replaced by a pinch runner. Elon then put runners on the corners after a throwing error allowed Reili Gardner to reach. Gardner stole second to move both runners into scoring position, but a fielder's choice and a strikeout ended the threat.
 
Elon threatened again in the fourth. Teagan Baulsir singled with one out, and Hatzopoulos followed with a base hit. However, the Phoenix flew into an inning-ending double play.
 
Stony Brook broke the scoreless tie with a three-run fifth inning. The Seawolves opened with a single and advanced a runner on a passed ball. A Phoenix error put runners on the corners before Stony Brook scored on a fielder's choice bunt play. A wild pitch advanced runners into scoring position, and the Seawolves added two RBI singles to take a 3-0 lead.
 
Elon responded in the sixth. Greta Hessenthaler led off with a single, but the next two batters were retired, leaving the Phoenix down to its final out of the inning. Hessenthaler advanced to third on two wild pitches, and a walk to Baulsir kept the inning alive. Hatzopoulos then lined an RBI single to score Hessenthaler and put Elon on the board.
 
Following a pitching change, Swart delivered a two-out RBI single to shallow center, scoring Baulsir and cutting the deficit to 3-2. Hatzopoulos and Swart moved into scoring position, but a strikeout ended the rally.
 
After turning a double play to escape trouble in the top of the seventh, Elon carried that momentum into its final at-bat. Murray drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases with two outs, giving the Phoenix a prime opportunity.
 
Stony Brook, however, escaped the jam, recording the final outs on a flyout to shallow left and a fielder's choice to secure the 3-2 win.
 
On Deck
Elon and Stony Brook continue the series Saturday at 2 p.m. The contest will stream on FloCollege.