By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Elon’s softball team holds a share of first place in the Coastal Athletic Association after sweeping three games from College of Charleston at Hunt Softball Park.
Southern Alamance graduate Greta Hessenthaler had two hits and drove in two runs in Sunday’s 5-1 series finale.
Hessenthaler, who has reached base in 33 consecutive games, had a triple as part of her ninth multi-hit outing of the season.
Anna Dew was the winning pitcher in Friday’s 3-2, nine-inning victory and again Sunday, when she retired 16 of the final 17 batters. McKenna McCard threw a three-hitter in Saturday’s 6-0 triumph.
Elon (20-14 overall, 12-3 CAA) shares first place with Campbell. College of Charleston fell out of a tie for first place.
The Phoenix visits last-place Drexel for three games Friday through Sunday.
Baseball
Nationally-ranked North Carolina rallied past Elon 12-10 on Tuesday night in its first visit to Latham Park in 10 years.
Elon (11-21) took a 9-5 lead with a seven-run sixth inning before the Tar Heels (25-8) responded in the seventh. Tyson Bass’ two-out grand slam tied the game and two batters later Gavin Gallagher smacked a two-run homer. It was Gallagher’s second homer of the night and Bass added his second long ball in the ninth.
Elon’s Ryan Sprock hit a solo homer in the eighth inning for his third hit of the game. Teammate Alex Duffey had three hits and drove in two runs.
Elon lost its first two games of a Coastal Athletic Association series at William & Mary before Declain Lavelle’s eight-hitter to subdue William & Mary in a 10-0, seven-inning victory Sunday at Williamsburg, Virginia.
The Phoenix (3-6 CAA) has a home conference series Friday through Sunday vs. Towson.
Women’s basketball
Guard Raven Preston has transferred from Elon to Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons announced the move this week, though Preston revealed her choice last week on social media.
In 45 games across two seasons with Elon, Preston averaged 11.8 points and 8.7 rebounds. During the past season, she led the Phoenix in scoring 12 times and had the team’s top rebound total 20 times.
She was CAA’s Scholar Athlete of the Year for women’s basketball in 2024-25 and also an All-CAA second team selection.
She has two seasons of college eligibility remaining. She was the 2022-23 CAA Rookie of the Year before missing the next season because of an injury.
Football
A scrimmage to close Elon spring workouts will be held Saturday at Rhodes Stadium. It begins at 11:00 a.m. and is open to the public.
Landen Clark and Marco Lainez have been among those working at quarterback during spring drills. Lainez is a transfer from Iowa.
Also, it was announced this week that Elon’s season opener at Duke has been moved up two days. It will be played Thursday, August 28, at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham.
