Elon University Athletics

GREENSBORO – The Elon softball team split its doubleheader at N.C. A&T on Thursday, falling 2-1 in the opener before responding with a 4-0 shutout victory in game two behind a complete-game performance from Lia Miller at the Lady Aggie Softball Complex.
 
The Phoenix (17-31, 11-12 CAA) and the Aggies (20-32, 5-18 CAA) will compete for the series Friday afternoon in the rubber match.
 
Game One: N.C. A&T 2, Elon 1
The game developed into a pitchers' duel through the first four innings. Despite that, the Aggies had the first real opportunity to push a run across in the bottom of the fourth. N.C. A&T advanced a runner to third on a passed ball with two outs, but the Phoenix escaped the jam.
 
Elon struck first in the top of the fifth. Mauri Murray led off the inning with a walk before being replaced on the bases by Brook Camacho as a pinch runner. Camacho moved into scoring position on a stolen base and later advanced to third on a passed ball. She scored on a one-out fielder's choice as Greta Hessenthaler drove in the run while the Phoenix put two runners on.
 
A single by Mary Moss Wirt loaded the bases with one out, but an infield pop-up and a strikeout ended the threat as Elon took a 1-0 lead.
 
The Aggies responded in the bottom of the sixth. N.C. A&T opened the inning with a leadoff single before the runner advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. The game was tied on the next at-bat with an RBI double to left field. Another single moved the go-ahead run to third before the Aggies drove her in with a base hit to take the lead.
 
Elon put the tying run on base in the seventh after an N.C. A&T error during Hessenthaler's at-bat with one out. However, the Aggies recorded the final two outs to secure the 2-1 win.
 
Anna Dew tossed her 14th complete game of the season and fell to 11-12 on the year. The junior allowed six hits and two runs while striking out four.
 
The Phoenix was limited to two hits, with Hessenthaler and Wirt recording the team's base knocks. Elon left eight runners on base.
 
Game Two: Elon 4, N.C. A&T 0
The Phoenix wasted no time getting the offense going in game two. Elon saw its first two batters retired in the top of the first but kept the inning alive after Jenna Klein reached on an error. Klein advanced to second on a wild pitch and later scored on a Teagan Baulsir RBI double to left-center.
 
Elon continued the two-out rally as Chloe Hatzopoulos delivered an RBI single to right, scoring Baulsir to give the Phoenix a 2-0 lead.
 
The Phoenix doubled its lead in the top of the fourth. Lani Wyrick reached on a one-out bunt single and advanced to scoring position on a stolen base. She later scored on a Reili Gardner double down the left-field line to give the Phoenix a 3-0 lead. Gardner herself would score on an RBI single from Wirt, extending Elon's advantage to 4-0.
 
The runs were more than enough for starter Lia Miller. The junior benefited from four double plays turned by the Phoenix defense while tossing her first shutout of the year to improve to 5-5 after her complete-game performance.
 
Elon had a stronger outing at the plate in game two, recording seven hits. Wirt had the lone multi-hit game for the Phoenix, going 2-for-4 at the dish. She was also one of four players who drove in an RBI for Elon.
 
Notes

• The Aggies' game one win over Elon was their first since joining the CAA in 2023. The loss also snapped the Phoenix's 21-game win streak over its longtime Piedmont Triad rival.
• Elon was one double play shy of tying the NCAA single game record of five.

 
On Deck
The Phoenix and the Aggies will play in the rubber match Friday with the opening pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.