Scouting the Columbia Regional opponents: Elon Phoenix

The South Carolina softball team, with its No. 8 national seed in tow, is set to host a regional in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. The Gamecocks will look to continue their historic season on Friday, when they take on Elon at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN Plus.

Leading up to that game, GamecockCentral will be providing in-depth previews of each team in the Columbia Regional. Joining South Carolina, Virginia and North Florida in the region is No. 4 seed Elon.

Keep up with all things Gamecocks for just $1 for 7 days—lock in this special offer today!

How Elon got here

This season marks the first time the Phoenix are making an NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010, the year of their national postseason debut. Elon was one of 31 squads to earn an automatic qualifier after claiming its first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament championship. The Phoenix defeated Campbell twice on May 10 – 5-0 in game one, and 6-2 in game two – to claim the title.

Elon finished the regular season with a 29-18 record, which improved to 33-19 after CAA Tournament play. The team went 21-6 against in-conference opponents, placing it second in the conference standings.

When the Phoenix last appeared in an NCAA Tournament, they competed in the Athens Regional. Elon lost to top-seeded Georgia and Radford, thereby eliminating them from the tournament without earning a win.

How Elon stacks up against NCAA Division I teams

Much of Elon’s 2025 schedule consisted of mid- to low-major opponents, many of whom the Phoenix did not have problems putting away. The team had some opportunities to face off against Power Five programs, but these matchups did not yield success. Elon has yet to play an opponent from the SEC – the conference the Gamecocks are representing this year – but has faced one from the Big Ten and four from the ACC. The Phoenix went 0-5 in these games, losing them by a combined 25 runs.

Elon heads into the NCAA Tournament ranked within or near the top third of NCAA Division I softball teams in numerous statistical categories. The Phoenix have scored 296 runs this year, putting them tied for 73rd in the country. The team’s batters have launched 41 home runs (tied-99th) and combined for a .294 batting average (105th) and .370 on-base percentage (131st).

Elon’s pitching staff ranks in the same general area, depending on the statistic. The Phoenix’s 3.65 earned run average is 108th in the nation, while its 1.56 WHIP ranks 133rd.

Elon’s key players

Elon saw five of its players earn recognition from the CAA following the regular season. Outfielder Kaitlyn Wells and second baseman Greta Hessenthaler earned All-CAA First Team honors, while third baseman Allee Seering, outfielder Chloe Hatzopoulos and pitcher McKenna McCard made the All-CAA Second Team.

Wells, the Phoenix’s lone hitter with a batting average above .400 (.417), has been the team’s most productive performer on offense. She leads Elon in nearly every offensive category, including home runs (16), RBIs (58), slugging percentage (.785) and on-base percentage (.481). Hessenthaler, meanwhile, hit .355 with 19 RBIs while drawing 32 walks, the most of any player on the team.

McCard spearheaded the Phoenix’s rotation with a 13-4 record and 1.98 ERA, the second-lowest of any pitcher in the conference. She has thrown six complete games and held opposing hitters to a .228 batting average. McCard has also demonstrated strong control in the circle, striking out 84 batters while walking 32.

Elon’s previous history with South Carolina

The Gamecocks and Elon have faced off four times in both programs’ respective histories. South Carolina carries a 3-1 lead in the all-time series into this weekend.

The two teams last faced off on March 5, 2021. That day, the Gamecocks earned a 14-1 run-rule victory over the Phoenix in their first game of the Carolina Classic.

Game one details

Elon will play its first NCAA Tournament game against No. 1 seed and regional host South Carolina at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. The game will be streamed on ESPN Plus.

The Gamecocks will then play either Virginia or North Florida on Saturday.

Visit The Insiders Forum, our exclusive Gamecocks-only, no-trolls message board!