GREENSBORO – With the help of freshman pitcher Lauren Hardy, the North Carolina A&T softball team did its best to stay within striking distance against the Elon Phoenix during the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) series finale Sunday at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex.

However, despite their best efforts, Elon pulled away late, completing its three-game sweep of the Aggies with a 9-2 win to improve to 25-15 overall and 17-4 in CAA play. Hardy relieved starting pitcher in sophomore Aaliyah Williams (L, 2-11) and went 6.1 innings before running into trouble in the Elon seventh as the Aggies fell to 10-34 overall and 2-19 in league play.

Freshman Tyra Robinson went 1-for-3 with an RBI for the Aggies, who found themselves trailing 4-0 after the Elon first as Hardy replaced Aaliyah Williams with one out in the frame. The Aggies opened their first with a single from junior Katriel Williams off Elon starter Meredith Wells.

Katriel Williams stole second with one out and moved to third on a groundout from Mears. Wells' wild pitch allowed Katriel Williams to score to cut the Phoenix's lead to 4-1. The Aggies kept the Phoenix off the scoreboard in the second and third innings before getting to within two in the A&T third.

A&T sophomore Destiny Sims opened the A&T third with a single. Mears moved her into scoring position by grounding out to shortstop. A deep flyball to right field off the bat of sophomore Trinity Glover was caught by Reagan Hartley. But it allowed Sims to advance to third with two outs. Robinson earned her RBI with a single up the middle to score Sims, cutting Elon's advantage to 4-2.

A&T put the go-ahead run at the plate in the home fourth after Elon reliever Isley Duggins (W, 3-1) walked two Aggies. But a strikeout of Sims ended the frame. Chloe Hatzopoulos put some distance between Elon and A&T in the visitor's fifth inning with a solo home run. In the sixth, Hardy pitched around a bases-loaded jam by striking out Hatzopoulos, keeping the Aggies within three.

However, the Aggies could not rally in the sixth, and Elon posted four runs and five hits in its seventh to break the game open. Mears walked in the Aggies seventh, but nothing would come of it. Duggins pitched four scoreless and hitless innings, walking four and striking out three.

A&T will hit the road next weekend with a three-game CAA series against Hampton, starting Friday, April 25 at 1 p.m.