ELON, N.C.- Elon used two sixth-inning rallies to down North Carolina A&T in non-conference doubleheader softball action at East Field on Thursday evening.  Elon trailed 9-7 in the first game, but used four runs in the sixth inning to earn an 11-7 victory.  In the second game, the Phoenix posted three runs in the sixth frame to take a 7-5 win.

Down 9-7 in game one, Debbie Zeigler led off the sixth inning with a double to left centerfield before Brandi Jones doubled into the gap to plate Zeigler and cut the North Carolina A&T led to one at 9-8.  Melanie Helterbran then singled up the middle to send Jones home and tie the game 9-9.  With pinch runner Jaymie Shanahan on second base, Patti Weber double to left centerfield to score Shanahan and give Elon the eventual game-winning run.  Paige Goss then knocked a triple to send Weber home and give Elon the 11-9 lead.

Elon took a 1-0 lead after the first inning when Goss scored on a ground out by Zeigler.  The Phoenix continued the scoring with four runs in the bottom of the second frame.  With runners on second and third, Goss singled through the right side to score Ashlee Crewe before an error by the short stop allowed Weber to take home.  Tracey Dahlen then singled up the middle to send Goss home before a single by Zeigler  plated Laurin Smith to give Elon a 5-0 advantage.

North Carolina A&T responded with two runs in the top of the third inning.  With runners on second and third, Jessie Larson doubled to right centerfield to send both runners home and cut the Elon lead to three, 5-2.

The Lady Aggies added another run in the top of the fourth inning when Lillian Bullock led off with a solo homer over the left field fence to cut the lead to two at 5-3.

Elon extended the lead back to four in the bottom half of the frame.  With runners on second and third, Jones grounded out to the short stop, allowing Smith to score from third.  Helterbran then singled up the middle to score Zeigler and give Elon a 7-3 lead.

North Carolina A&T posted six runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead.  With the bases loaded, Adia Dial doubled to left centerfield to send two runners home and cut the lead to two at 7-5.  Tabitha Veney then singled to short stop to send Bullock home before a sacrifice fly by Sylvia Felder and an error by the centerfielder allowed  Veney and Dial to score, giving the Lady Aggies a 8-7 lead.  Larson singled through the right side to send Jessica Cooper home to give NC A&T a two-run lead, 9-7.

Carol Lilley (11-9) picked up the win for Elon after tossing 2.2 innings in relief and giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out one batter.  Sasha Philpot (12-9) suffered the loss for the Lady Aggies after throwing 5.2 innings and giving up 11 runs (seven earned) on 15 hits.

Zeigler led Elon from the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Goss was 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.  Helterbran tallied two hits and two RBI while Rao also posted two hits and Jones recorded two RBI. 

Bullock led the Lady Aggies, going 3-for-4 from the plate with two runs scored and one RBI.  Larson was 2-for-3 from the plate with one run and three RBI while Dial added two RBI.

In the second game, Elon again used a sixth-inning rally to come from behind and earn the win.  Down 5-4, the Phoenix tied the game on an RBI double from Smith that plated Crewe, who had reached on a walk.  Then, with Smith on second, Dahlen blasted a home run over the centerfield fence to give Elon a 7-5 lead.

Elon started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning.  With runners on the corners, Crewe knocked a sacrifice fly to centerfield to send Jones home from third.  Rao, who had reached on a walk, stole second before Weber singled to centerfield to send her home and give Elon a 2-0 lead.  With Weber on third base, Goss singled back to the pitcher to send Weber home and put the Phoenix ahead 3-0.

The Lady Aggies responded with three runs in the top of the third inning.  Cooper blasted a home run out of left field to cut the lead to two, 3-1, before Larson singled to left field to send Yahamma White and Felder home and tie the game, 3-3.

Elon (24-23) regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.  With the bases loaded, a pitch got past the NC A&T catcher and Rao went home to give Elon a 4-3 lead.

North Carolina A&T (21-28) took the lead in the top of the sixth inning.  Veney doubled to left centerfield before a single from Felder sent her home to tie the game, 4-4.  Chaola Simmons knocked a single before White singled to left field to send Felder home and give the Lady Aggies a 5-4 lead.

Meredith Gay (2-0) earned the win for the Phoenix after throwing 3.2 innings in relief and giving up two runs on seven hits while retiring two batters.  Dial (6-12) suffered the loss for North Carolina A&T after tossing 6.0 innings and giving up seven runs on nine hits while striking out one.

Weber led Elon from the plate, going 2-for-2 with one run and one RBI.  Jones also notched two hits for the Phoenix and Dahlen posted two RBI.  White led the Lady Aggies, going 3-for-3 from the plate with one run and one RBI while Larson posted two hits and two RBI.

Elon returns to action on Saturday, April 21 in 1 p.m. doubleheader with Chattanooga at East Field.