DELAND, FLA.- Allison Hartman hit a leadoff homerun in the third to spark a 4-3 come from behind victory over the Bowling Green Falcons in the first game of the Stetson Spring Classic in DeLand, Fla.

Elon improves to 9-7 this season and 1-0 in the tournament.  Bowling Green falls to 0-10 on the year.

Bowling Green got on the board first in the bottom of the first when Dawnjene DeLong scored on a throwing error that followed single by Rachel Delp.

The Falcons extended their lead to two in the second after a passed ball advanced Haleigh Bielstein to third after she reached on a walk.  She then scored on a wild pitch by Pam DelPizzo.

Elon answered in the third after Allison Hartman hit a leadoff homerun.  Tracey Dahlen recorded her second hit of the day when she doubled to center and then stole third.  She would be left stranded as Bowling Green retired the next two batters.

Jaimie Rao scored to tie the game at two in the top of the fourth.  Rao singled and then took advantage of a Falcon throwing error to move to second.  DelPizzo laid down a sacrifice bunt that advanced Rao to third.  A Brandi Jones single to right field scored Rao.  Hartman grounded out to the shortstop to end the inning.

Bowling Green threatened in the bottom half of the inning when Susan Sontag opened with a single, but was tagged at second on a fielder’s choice. The threat ended when the next batter grounded out to the pitcher.

The score remained tied at two until the top of the sixth when Debbie Zeigler singled to left to start the inning.  Hannah Shelton came in to pinch run and advanced to second on a passed ball.  A DelPizzo single moved Shelton to third.  A throwing error by the catcher allowed Shelton to score and advanced DelPizzo to third.  Elon added to its lead when Jaymie Shanahan singled to drive home DelPizzo.  That is all the damage that was done as the final two hitters were retired to end the inning.

BGU’s DeLong scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on a double by Allison Vallas. 

Picking up the win was Pam DelPizzo who improves to 3-3 on the year.  DelPizzo allowed three runs off of five hits, walked five and struck out three in seven innings of work.  Taking the loss was Emily Gouge, who came on in relief of Hayley Weimer.  Gouge (0-3) allowed two runs on four hits in 3.0 innings pitched.  She also walked three and struck out four.

Shanahan was 1-2 at the plate with two RBI to lead the Phoenix offensive attack.  Dahlen was 2-3 with two stolen bases and one walk.  For the Falcons, Vallas led the team in offensive production with one RBI off of two hits in three trips to the plate.

Elon faces Iowa in the second game of the Stetson Spring Classic at 1:30 p.m.  Live stats are available at www.gohatters.com.

-ELON-