CLEMSON, S.C. – A grand slam in the bottom of the sixth from Chloe Hatzopoulos helped the Elon University softball team to a 6-2 victory over Villanova in the Phoenix's finale at the Clemson Classic on Sunday, Feb. 23 at McWhorter Stadium.
 
Elon's sweep over the Wildcats from the past two days improves its record to 5-7 on the season. Villanova falls to 5-8.
 
At the Plate
• Elon recorded 10 hits in the game, its third contest this season with double-digit base knocks. Allee Seering had another strong game at the plate as the senior went 3-of-4 while scoring a pair of runs. Hatzopoulos and Kaitlyn Wells also had multi-hit efforts with the pair both going 2-of-3 with Wells adding a double to her stat line.
 
In the Circle
• Meredith Wells was credited with the win to improve to 1-0 on the year. The Daleville, Va., native pitched 3.0 innings in relief and recorded a strikeout.
• Starter McKenna McCard tossed 3.0 frames and gave up two earned runs with a strikeout. Taylor Cherry allowed one hit in her 1.0 frame of action in the seventh.
 
The Rundown
• Elon got on the board first in the bottom of the opening frame. Seering reached on a one-out single before she was driven home on a double to right center by Kaitlyn Wells.
• The Phoenix doubled its lead in the bottom of the third. Seering led off with a single before advancing to second on a sac bunt. A single from Gabi Schaal moved Seering to third before the Phoenix added its second run of the game on a Teagan Baulsir sac fly to center.
• Villanova came back to tie the game in the top of the fourth. The Wildcats drew a free pass to start the inning before connecting on a two-run home run to knot the contest at 2-2. Villanova then got another runner on via a double before the Phoenix made a change in the circle as Meredith Wells took over for McCard. Wells was able to keep the contest tied as she induced the next three outs.
• After a Villanova was retired in order in the top half of the sixth, Elon took back the lead in its home half of the frame. The Phoenix loaded the bases with one out after Regan Hartley drew a walk as Hatzopoulos stepped into the batter's box. The redshirt junior worked a 2-2 count before hitting a grand slam over the left field wall to put the Phoenix ahead 6-2.
• Elon got into a jam in the top of the seventh as Villanova had its first two runners reach on a double and a Phoenix error. Cherry, who took over for Wells at the start of the inning, was able to finagle out of trouble as she induced the next three outs to secure the win and Elon's sweep versus the Wildcats this weekend.
 
On Deck
Elon travels to North Carolina for its first true road game of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Game time between the Phoenix and the Tar Heels is scheduled for