ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team begins a seven-game road trip this week, as the Phoenix (20-14, 12-3 CAA) travels to Philadelphia to face Drexel (2-31, 2-13 CAA) in a three-game CAA set. Series begins on Saturday, April 112, at 3 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Sunday, April 13 beginning at 11 a.m. at the Drexel Softball Field.
 
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 12 – 3 p.m.
Sunday, April 13 – 11 a.m. (DH)
 
FOLLOW THE PHOENIX
• Live stats will be available for the series by going to the team's schedule page at elonphoenix.com.
• The series will stream on FloCollege (FloSoftball) via a paid subscription.
• For more information on the Phoenix, follow the program's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram at @elonsoftball.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• Elon leads the all-time series versus Drexel, 21-2, going back to when the two teams became CAA opponents in 2015. This weekend will be the Phoenix's first time traveling to Drexel since 2019.
• The Phoenix has won six straight in the series, including a sweep of the Dragons last season at Hunt Softball Park. Elon outscored Drexel 26-2 and as a team hit .425 versus the Dragons with a .694 slugging percentage and a .467 on-base percentage. In the circle, Phoenix pitchers had a 0.39 ERA in 18.0 innings of action.
• One of the Phoenix's two losses in the series came at Drexel in 2019 with the Dragons taking a 15-4 decision over the maroon and gold in the second game of the three-game set. Elon however responded with a 5-4 victory in the series finale to win the series.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Phoenix swept College of Charleston last weekend on its home diamond, earning its fourth CAA series win of the year and its third with a sweep. Elon also extended its home winning streak to 11 games after its wins over the Cougars.
• Elon battled Charleston to a 3-2 win in extra innings in the opening game of the series before taking a 6-0 verdict in game two. The series concluded with the Phoenix earning a 5-1 decision on Sunday, extending its win streak over Charleston to six games.
• Offensively, Elon batted .259 and had six players hit over .300 in the series. In the circle, the maroon and gold posted a 0.91 ERA in 23.0 innings.
 
ANNA DEW NAMED CAA CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK
• On Monday, April 7, Phoenix sophomore pitcher Anna Dew was named the CAA Co-Pitcher of the Week after her performance in helping Elon win its series over Charleston.
• The Harrisburg, N.C., native went 2-0 for the maroon and gold versus the Cougars, posting a 0.95 ERA in 7.1 innings of action. In the series finale, Dew earned the complete-game win while striking out a career-high six batters in the contest.
• This is the first career CAA weekly honor for Dew and the second for the Phoenix this season. Kaitlyn Wells was named the league's Co-Player of the Week on March 4.
 
AROUND THE HORN
• Elon is tied for first in the CAA standings with Campbell with its 12-3 ledger. The Phoenix is a game up over Delaware, who is third in the standings at 11-4 with Stony Brook ranking fourth at 10-5.
• As a team, Elon is batting .285 while scoring 190 runs with 28 home runs and 158 RBI. The Phoenix ranks fourth in the CAA in runs scored and is second in the league in home runs. The Phoenix ranks third overall in the CAA in slugging percentage (.435) and is only one of seven teams to convert a triple play this season in the NCAA.
• Kaitlyn Wells leads the Phoenix with her .390 batting average. The senior is the Phoenix's leader in home runs with 10, which is second in the CAA. The Roswell, Ga., native is also second in the league in slugging percentage (.771), OPS (1.229) and is tied for the CAA-lead with 34 RBI. She is also fourth in the CAA in hits (41).
• Greta Hessenthaler is second with her .384 batting average and is tied for second on the squad with 38 total hits. The Liberty, N.C., native extended her reached base streak to 33 games after the Charleston series, currently the longest active streak in the country.
• Allee Seering is third on the squad with her .333 average and is tied with Hessenthaler for second on the team in hits with 38. The senior has three homers with 22 RBI while ranking in the top-10 of the CAA in total hits.
• Elon's pitching staff has posted a 4.24 cumulative ERA this season in 223.0 innings of action. The Phoenix hurlers have accounted for 143 strikeouts compared to 125 walks.
• McKenna McCard leads the Phoenix in innings pitched at 60.2 while posting a 2.54 ERA with a 7-3 record and 47 strikeouts. Taylor Cherry is second with 52.0 innings of action and is second to McCard in strikeouts with 37 while posting a team-low 2.42 ERA. Cherry also has one of the Phoenix's two saves on the year along with Isley Duggins.
 
SCOUTING DREXEL (2-31, 2-13 CAA)
• Drexel is 2-31 on the season and 2-13 in the CAA going into the weekend. The Dragons faced Villanova in a cross-town meeting on Wednesday in their most recent matchup, resulting in a 12-0 setback.
• The Dragons are slashing .257/.361/.313 offensively while scoring 95 runs with 11 home runs and 84 RBI. Senior Mia Garza leads the team with 25 hits, 10 runs scored, three home runs while batting .329 on the season. Freshman Zoe Krizan has driven in a team-high 14 RBI as she is one of four players with 10 or more RBI for Drexel.
• In the circle, the tandem of Violet Marta and Madison Taylor have seen the most time toeing the rubber for the Dragons this season. Taylor leads the team in innings pitched with 84.1 and has 44 strikeouts while Marta is close behind with 82.1 innings and 38 strikeouts. Both players have appeared in 23 games with Marta being credited with both wins for Drexel this season.
 
PRESEASON PRAISE
• Elon had four members of its program recognized on the 2025 Preseason All-CAA Softball Team as announced by the league office on Jan. 31. Fifth-year Gabi Schaal, senior McKenna McCard and junior Mauri Murray were selected to the Preseason All-CAA Team in their respective positions. Senior Allee Seering was an honorable mention nod.
• Schaal was a Second Team All-CAA choice last season as the Lakeland, Fla, native led the CAA in home runs with 11 and finished third in the league with 38 RBI. She finished in the top 10 of the CAA in slugging percentage (.556).
• Murray was selected to the All-CAA First Team after leading the team in batting average (.361) and slugging percentage (.583). The Marvin, N.C., native notched 52 hits in 144 at-bats while scoring 32 runs with eight homers and 33 RBI while ranking in the top-10 of the CAA in several categories. She also earned NFCA Mid-Atlantic Third Team All-Region honors.
• McCard served as the Phoenix's ace in the circle, leading the Phoenix in appearances (30), starts (21), complete games (11) and innings pitched (122.0). The Ashburn, Ga., native posted a 2.52 ERA while also striking out a team-high 85 batters while posting four shutouts on the season.
• Seering was named to the All-CAA Second Team during her junior campaign last season. The Waxhaw, N.C., native led the Phoenix with 40 RBI and 15 stolen bases and was second on the squad in doubles (12) and hits (49).
 
RETURNING PHOENIX
• Outside of the four preseason All-CAA honorees, the Phoenix returns several key players in 2025, including starters Greta Hessenthaler (second base), Kaitlyn Wells (outfield) and Reagan Hartley (outfield). Hessenthaler was a CAA All-Rookie team choice last season while Wells was third on the team with six home runs. Hartley finished third on the program with 11 stolen bases.
• In the circle, Elon returns 100 percent of its pitching staff last season. Along with McCard, the Phoenix welcomes back the arms of Taylor Cherry, Meredith Wells, Isley Duggins, Michaela Hobson, Kyra Leonard, Anna Dew and Lia Miller.
 
CALL HER COACH CAR
• Elon added a familiar face to its coaching staff this summer as Carley Davis begins her first season as an assistant coach on head coach Kathy Bocock's staff in 2025.
• Davis concluded her career with the Phoenix last spring, spending most of her time as a starter behind the plate. She appeared in 197 career games with 194 starts for the maroon and gold and was a two-time All-CAA Second Team selection. A native of Bridgewater, Va., Davis finished her career as Elon's all-time Division I leader in runners caught stealing with 37. This past season, Davis hit a career-best .312 with four homers and 24 RBI.
• Along with Davis, Bocock also made another staff change with the elevation of Sophia Devesa to a full-time assistant and recruiting coordinator after Devesa spent her first season as a volunteer for the Phoenix in 2024. Devesa was part of a staff that helped mentor the Phoenix batters to hit .270 last season, Elon's highest batting average since 2018. The Phoenix's offense was also second in the CAA in runs scored with 252 while its 34 home runs were a league best.
 
2024 RECAP
• Elon finished last season with a 23-29 ledger and a 17-10 mark during CAA play. The 17 league wins mark the most for the program since joining the league as the Phoenix reached the CAA Softball Championships for the fifth straight season (excluding the canceled 2020 COVID-19 season).
• Among the notable accomplishments for the Phoenix last season included Elon head coach Kathy Bocock earning her 300^th career win with the program. Bocock, who is the Phoenix's all-time career wins leader, earned the milestone versus North Dakota State at the Marucci Classic.
• The Phoenix had five players received All-CAA recognition last season. Sophomore Mauri Murray received All-CAA First Team laurels while fifth-year Carley Davis, redshirt junior Gabi Schaal and junior Allee Seering were placed on the league's Second Team. Freshman Greta Hessenthaler rounded out the All-CAA Phoenix honorees with her spot in the All-Rookie Team.
• Schaal also received some hardware for her work both on and off the field as she was named the softball recipient of the 2023-24 Coastal Athletic Association's Leadership and Sport Excellence Award.
• Megan Grant became the program's all-time career leader in walks at the Division I level. The Vinton, Va., native retired after last season with 125 career free passes to her name.
 
ON DECK
• Elon travels to fellow Piedmont Triad rival North Carolina A&T next weekend, April 18-20, for its next series to continue its seven-game road trip.