No. 2 Elon Lifts First CAA Championship with Two Wins over No. 4 Campbell

5/10/2025 3:19:09 PM

Dylan Smith

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – For the first time in program history, No. 2 seed Elon Phoenix (33-19) hoisted the CAA Championship with a pair of wins over fourth-seeded Campbell (37-20).

Elon secured a 5-0 victory in game one behind a collaborative pitching effort from Taylor Cherry and Meredith Wells. The duo surrendered just three hits without a walk to force the rubber match.

The Phoenix secured its first CAA title behind a pair of third-inning homers to take down the Camels, 6-2, in the winner-take-all matchup.

Elon senior outfielder Kaitlyn Wells earned Most Outstanding Player honors for the tournament after registering a hit in all five contests to go with a tournament-high eight RBIs.

Game 1 – No. 2 Elon 5, No. 4 Campbell 2
Elon broke through in the top of the first with a two-spot on the board. Second baseman Greta Hessenthaler ripped a leadoff double to right before advancing to third on an Allee Seering bunt single. Wells turned on an inside pitch and found open terrain through the left side to plate the first run of the game. The Phoenix shortstop drew a throw down to second during the next at-bat, staying away from the tag long enough to let Seering score for a 2-0 lead.

Elon’s Cherry kept the Camels at bay across the first four innings, surrendering just two hits and striking out a pair of batters. Campbell’s Hannah Leierer settled in after the first frame, tossing a 1-2-3 second inning before inducing double plays in both the third and fourth.

The pitching staffs battled until Elon expanded its lead to five in the final frame. The Phoenix loaded the bases with singles from Mary Moss Wirt and Lani Wyrick, while Reagan Hartley drew a walk. With nowhere to put them, Seering also reached base on a free pass and Wells was plunked to knock across two tallies, giving Elon a four-run edge. Gabi Schaal roped a sacrifice fly to right to knock in Wyrick for a 5-0 lead.

Elon’s Meredith Wells stayed on for the seventh and forced three straight groundouts to end the game, securing her second save of the season.

Game 2 – No. 2 Elon 6, No. 4 Campbell 2
After a scoreless opening frame, Elon capitalized on a Campbell miscue in the second inning and brought Hessenthaler around to score for a 1-0 lead.

The Phoenix went up by four runs in the home half of the third, beginning with Hessenthaler drawing an eight-pitch walk to start the stanza. Two batters later, K. Wells took an 0-2 pitch over the fence in straightaway center field. Just three pitches after that, Chloe Hatzopoulos did the same thing, belting a solo shot to the same part of the ballpark for a 4-0 lead.

Campbell slashed its deficit in half, 4-2, in the top of the fourth. Doubles from Hannah Cornetto and Madison Ford put second and third. Alyssa Armijo drove in both runners on a single to left to pull within two.

Elon quickly responded in the bottom half of the fourth stanza with a two-spot of its own. Wirt and Hartley produced back-to-back singles to open the frame. After a walk to Hessenthaler to load the bases, Seering laced a single through the left side to bring Wirt in from third. K. Wells floated the first pitch she saw into center field and knocked in Hartley with a sacrifice fly to reclaim a four-run edge, 6-2.

Reliever Anna Dew shined out of the bullpen, going 2.2 near-perfect innings with two strikeouts and just one hit allowed. The sophomore hurler retired the final five batters she faced before turning it over to McKenna McCard for the final out, helping Elon hoist the title.

Newly-crowned conference champion Elon will hear its name called in the NCAA Softball Championship Selection Show on Sunday, May 11 at 7 p.m. on ESPN. The Phoenix will make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010.

2025 CAA All-Tournament Team
Kaitlyn Wells, Elon – Most Outstanding Player
Mary Beth Cahalan, Delaware
Emma Falen, Hofstra
Megan Gregory, Campbell
Chloe Hatzopoulos, Elon
Charlie Montgomery, Campbell
Dahlia Palacio, Hofstra
Tyra Parker, Campbell
Allee Seering, Elon
Sydney Shaffer, Delaware
Meredith Wells, Elon

Wednesday, May 7
Game 1: No. 4 Campbell 13, No. 5 Stony Brook 7
Game 2: No. 3 Charleston 5, No. 6 Hofstra 2
Game 3: No. 6 Hofstra 7, No. 5 Stony Brook 2

Thursday, May 8
Game 4: No. 4 Campbell 3, No. 1 Delaware 2 (9 inn.)
Game 5: No. 2 Elon 4, No. 3 Charleston 3
Game 6: No. 6 Hofstra 3, No. 3 Charleston 0

Friday, May 9
Game 7: No. 4 Campbell 6, No. 2 Elon 2
Game 8: No. 1 Delaware 7, No. 6 Hofstra 5
Game 9: No. 2 Elon 3, No. 1 Delaware 2

Saturday, May 10
Game 10: No. 2 Elon 5, No. 4 Campbell 0
Game 11: No. 2 Elon 6, No. 4 Campbell 2

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