Elon, NC – The Hofstra softball team closed out its CAA road trip to North Carolina with a 4-1 defeat against Elon on Sunday from Hunt Softball Park.
 
Hofstra ends the series with a 1-15 overall record and a conference mark of 0-3, and Elon improves to 10-11 overall and 3-0 in the CAA.
 
Greta Hessenthaler led-off the first inning with an infield single, and Kaitlyn Wells launched a two-run home run over the wall in left field to put the hosts on top 2-0 early in Sunday's game. Hofstra had a prime opportunity to cut into Elon's lead in the top of the third, when Gemma D'Orazio, Chelsea Villar, and Anna Butler all drew walks to lead the bases. Unfortunately, Mackenzie Fitzgerald flied out to deep centerfield with two outs, preventing the Pride from getting on the board.
 
Elon doubled its lead with a two-run third inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, Gabi Schaal delivered a double to the wall in right center to score both runners, but she was thrown out at second after driving in both runs to make it 4-0 Elon. Villar made a dent in Elon's lead with a drive over the wall in left field for a solo home run, making it a 4-1 ballgame, but the next two batters struck out to end the game and the series.
 
Alanna Morse led the Pride with two hits in three at-bats, while Villar drove in one RBI on her solo home run, and Butler drew three of Hofstra's five walks against Elon. Emma Falen pitched all six innings for the Pride and tied a career-high with six strikeouts.
 
Hofstra has one more road game before its home opener on March 14 when the Pride heads to the Bronx to face Fordham on Wednesday, March 12, at 3 p.m.
 
NOTES:
-Villar tallied five hits and drove in three RBIs in the series against the Phoenix.
-Hofstra is now 15-10 all-time versus Elon.
-Butler's three walks are the most by a Hofstra player since Aliya Catanzarita walked three times against Campbell in the 2024 CAA Championship.