Elon dropped its first game to the Kent State Golden Flashes, 11-3, before rebounding for a 10-2 victory in game two in six innings over the Youngstown State Penguins.

Graham finished the day 4-for-6 at the plate with eight RBI and four runs scored. Senior hurler Lauren Taylor moved to 2-0 on the year after going all six innings in the second game, allowing only four hits and two walks, while tallying five strikeouts.

Game 1

The Phoenix escaped an early threat by the Flashes in the first inning after KSU put runners on second and third with one out, as senior Pam DelPizzo was able to pitch out of the jam by forcing a pop-up to second and a groundout to short to keep the game scoreless.

The Golden Flashes capitalized on a pair of Phoenix walks and an RBI single by Abbey Ledford in the top of the second to take an early 1-0 lead. After another walk to load the bases, junior #Erin O’Shea# relieved DelPizzo, but the Flashes rallied for two more runs to take a 3-0 advantage.

Elon threatened in the second inning after a pair of errors and a wild pitch put sophomore Morgan Wright and freshman Lauren Oldham on second and third. But the Phoenix was not able to cut into the deficit leaving both runners stranded on base.

Kent State tacked on to its lead with a two run opposite-field homer to right off the bat of Jessica Blanton, eventually putting Elon behind, 6-0, going into the bottom of the third. KSU broke the game open in the fifth off five runs on five hits to take an 11-0 lead.

The Phoenix got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth after a three-run shot by Graham made it an 11-3 game. A single by junior Kaitlyn Piazzolla and a Texas league double down the left field line by DelPizzo put runners at second and third with two down later in the inning. But the Phoenix could not capitalize and KSU held on for the 11-3 win.

Game 2

The Phoenix offense scored early in game two after sophomore Tomeka Watson hit a single up the middle in the leadoff spot to give Elon momentum. Watson advanced to second later in the inning on a throwing error and eventually stole third to put Elon in scoring position. Graham came up with a clutch two-out double to right center to plate Watson and give the Phoenix a 1-0 advantage.

The Penguins tried to rally in the third after loading the bases, but Taylor got out of the inning without any damage after getting a force out at home on a groundball to second and a strikeout to keep Elon's 1-0 lead intact.

Graham continued her dominance at the plate in the bottom of the third after smashing a three-run homer, her second three-run shot of the day and third of the weekend, to give the Phoenix a 4-0 edge.

Youngstown State got on the board in the fifth after Haley Thomas walked and later scored on consecutive groundouts. Vicky Rumph homered to left later in the inning to help the Penguins cut the Phoenix lead in half, 4-2.

But Elon got the two runs back in the bottom half of the fifth and just about put the game out of reach, as a two-run single from Oldham made it a 6-2 game. Elon capitalized on YSU walks later in the inning to plate three more runs and eventually took a commanding 9-2 lead.

Graham remained hot in the sixth inning, sending her fourth home run of the weekend over the fence in right center to end the game and give Elon the 10-2 victory.

The Phoenix continues play next weekend at home as Seton Hall, Dayton and Morgan State travel to East Field for the Elon Invitational. The Phoenix’s first game is set for Friday at 2 p.m. against Seton Hall.