ELON – The Elon softball team overcame an early deficit with a dominant first inning, defeating Stony Brook, 12-4, in the CAA rubber match on Sunday during Senior Day at Hunt Softball Park.
 
For the second straight game, Elon (16-30, 10-11 CAA) delivered a strong opening inning, plating seven runs in the bottom of the first to erase a two-run deficit against the Seawolves (18-26, 9-12 CAA).
 
At the Plate

• The Phoenix scored 12 runs on 11 hits, marking its best offensive output of the series. The 12 runs are the most for the maroon and gold since scoring 10 against Dartmouth on Feb. 20.
• Greta Hessenthaler went 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles in the opening inning and a season-high four RBI.
• Mauri Murray had a strong performance, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and her third home run of the season. Reili Gardner also recorded a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3.
• Mary Moss Wirt drove in two runs and drew a walk. 

In the Circle

• Anna Dew earned the win in relief, improving to 11-11 on the season. The junior allowed one unearned run over 2.1 innings with two strikeouts.
• Chana Wolfe made the start on Senior Day, allowing three runs, two earned, over 2.2 innings.

The Rundown
Stony Brook struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning. After a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt, Naiah Ackerman delivered a double down the right-field line to plate the game's first run. She later scored on an RBI single from Rachael Brown to give the Seawolves a 2-0 lead.
 
Elon answered with a seven-run bottom half of the inning. Hessenthaler opened with a double before Wirt drove her in with an RBI single to right. The Phoenix loaded the bases, and a walk to Payton Swart tied the game.
 
Murray followed with a two-run single to give Elon a 4-2 lead. After a pitching change by Stony Brook, Hessenthaler came back up in the inning and cleared the bases with her second double of the frame, pushing the Phoenix advantage to 7-2 after one.
 
The Seawolves added a run in the top of the third on a Phoenix error, but Elon responded with four runs in the bottom half. Hessenthaler drove in her fourth RBI with a single to left. Wirt later reached on a fielder's choice that brought home a run, and an error on the play allowed another to score. Teagan Baulsir capped the inning with an RBI single, extending the lead to 11-3.
 
Murray added a solo home run in the fourth, her third of the season, to make it 12-3.
 
Stony Brook plated a run in the fifth, again capitalizing on a Phoenix error, but Dew induced a game-ending double play with runners on to secure the run-rule victory and the series win.
 
On Deck
Elon travels to North Carolina A&T for a Piedmont Triad matchup to close out the regular season, April 30 through May 2.