Riding a program-best 17-game winning streak, the Stony Brook softball team is set to do battle with a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) rival.

After taking their midweek contest at Iona, the Seawolves (30-13, 15-6 CAA) will play host to the Elon Phoenix (19-25, 13-8 CAA) this weekend. The series will open with a pair of 1 p.m. contests on Friday and Saturday, respectively, before a noon game on Sunday to wrap things up.

Despite getting swept in their regular season series last year, the Seawolves got the last laugh by eliminating the Phoenix in their postseason meeting with an extra innings victory. With Stony Brook having already locked up a playoff berth, they will be looking to position themselves seeding-wise. Conversely, the Phoenix will look to punch their ticket to the postseason.

The weekend is shaping up to be a high-scoring battle, as both offenses rank inside the top four in the conference in batting average. Stony Brook holds the upper hand as it is tied for the league lead in home runs with 28. It also boasts three players in the CAA’s top-10 in on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS).

Leading the Seawolves offense is the reigning CAA Player of the Week: left fielder Catherine Anne Kupinski. En route to the honor, Kupinski notched nine runs batted in (RBI) and 10 hits throughout the week. On the year, she is just two points behind first place in the conference with a 1.104 OPS. She is also third in the CAA with a .377 batting average and in a tie for second with eight home runs. The senior — who has made a case for the conference’s best player — leads the pack in RBIs with 40.

Hitting right after Kupinski is first baseman Corinne Badger who has also spent some time behind the plate this year. After a nightmarish start to the year, Badger has turned her season around and ranks fourth in the league with a 1.002 OPS. Despite a measly .261 batting average, Badger has reached base at a .445 clip which is fourth in the conference and the highest on Stony Brook. Batting cleanup, she also provides prolific power as she has belted the second most home runs of any Seawolf with six — good for sixth in the CAA.

Serving as the team’s best table setter, shortstop Kyra McFarland leads the conference in batting average at .417. She has also brought a more power-oriented approach into her game this year, culminating in five doubles, a triple and two home runs. All told, she is eighth in the CAA in OPS at .951. McFarland poses as the Seawolves’ biggest threat to run as her 11 stolen bases lead the bunch.

Second baseman Naiah Ackerman has been a breakout star for Stony Brook this year as the sophomore has launched five home runs to put her in a tie for third on the team. She has also driven in 27 runs while hitting .288 with an .878 OPS. 

Tied with Ackerman in bombs is designated player Julianna Sanzone. After starting slow, Sanzone has turned heer season around as her average is up to .264. In addition to the aforementioned five home runs, Sanzone has tallied seven doubles and 25 RBIs for an .830 OPS.

As is the case with much of the lineup, right fielder Alyssa Costello has been red-hot of late as she has raised her average to .311. She is third on the team with 38 hits and second with eight stolen bags. Despite lacking a home run this season, Costello has seven doubles and is tied for fourth in the CAA with three triples. 

The Seawolves’ leadoff hitter is centerfielder Alicia Orosco who is hitting .301. In addition to 41 hits, Orosco has five extra base hits and has stolen six bases.

The series looks to be a prime opportunity for Stony Brook to feast on an Elon pitching staff that is just tenth in the conference with a 5.11 earned run average (ERA). 

Despite the overall team struggles, ace starting pitcher McKenna McCard has had a fantastic year, sitting sixth in the CAA with a 2.33 ERA. In 105 innings pitched this year, McCard has notched 77 strikeouts while holding opponents to a minuscule .224 batting average.

The Phoenix’ second best pitcher is right hander Taylor Cherry. Cherry — who has gotten work in both the rotation and bullpen — has had an up-and-down year. While her 3.82 ERA shows promise, Cherry has gotten hit hard at times as her batting average against (BAA) is .290 and she has given up 70 hits in just 58 ⅔ innings.

Meredith Wells has made the second-most starts of any Elon pitcher with nine. Despite the high volume, she does not qualify for the team’s ERA leaderboard having thrown just 42 innings. Wells has struggled mightily with an ERA over eight.

The final major piece to the Phoenix’ pitching staff is Isley Duggins, who has started eight of the 15 games she has appeared in. She has also been a victim of getting hit around as opponents are hitting .324 against the right-hander.

On the flip side, the Seawolves own one of the better staffs in the CAA. Their 3.19 ERA slots them into the fifth spot in the conference while holding opponents to the fourth-lowest average in the league (.257). 

Heading the rotation is starting pitcher Mia Haynes. Haynes has been a workhorse for Stony Brook having thrown the fifth most innings in the CAA with 127. In those innings, Haynes has found success to the tune of a 2.92 ERA which is eighth best in the league. She has also struck out 106 hitters which is the sixth most. 

Behind Haynes is left-handed starter Gabriell Maday. In her first year after transferring from Cornell, the southpaw has been a stalwart of head coach Megan Bryant’s weekend rotation as she has turned in 80 ⅔ innings. She has found success as she holds a 3.73 ERA and has walked only 19 hitters all year.

Reliever Ashton Melaas has turned into a major weapon out of Bryant’s bullpen as she owns a 3.06 ERA in 24 appearances. Melaas has converted three saves which is tied for the second-most in the conference. 

The staff will have to contend with a potent Elon offense as its .260 average is the fourth-highest in the CAA. They also hold a lethal lineup as their 27 home runs are the third-most. 

Right fielder Mauri Murray has been arguably its best hitter this year as she has slugged the second-most homers on the team with seven. She is hitting .319 on the year and is ninth in the conference with a .947 OPS. 

The team leader in home runs is first baseman Gabi Schaal with eight. Schaal sits tied with Kupinski for the second-most home runs in the league to go along with 29 RBIs, good for fifth-most. 

Third baseman Allee Seering is the Phoenix’ best contact hitter as her .331 batting average leads the team. In addition to the high clip, Seering has slugged 10 doubles, three triples and three home runs to eclipse a .904 OPS. Seering is also tenth in the CAA with 14 stolen bases.

Catcher Carley Davis has had a strong season out of the cleanup hole as she is hitting .321 entering the weekend. She also has three long balls and has been hit by 10 pitches, the third-most in the league. All in, Davis has a .468 on-base percentage which is the second-highest in the CAA. 

Leading things off is shortstop Megan Grant who is hitting .283. Playing in all 44 of her team’s contests, Grant has tallied 10 doubles which is tied for the team lead and has contributed to a .834 OPS. 

Left fielder Kaitlyn Wells has provided the Elon lineup with depth as she has slugged five home runs from the bottom of the batting order. Her 11 extra base hits have yielded an .830 OPS.

With their final series at University Field on tap, the Seawolves will look to extend their winning streak to an even 20.