ELON, N.C. – Behind some contributions from some of its first-year players, the Elon University softball team came away with a 5-2 victory over IUPUI in its season-opener on Friday afternoon, Feb. 11, at Hunt Softball Park on the first day of the Elon Softball Classic.
 
It was the first meeting between the Phoenix (1-0) and the Jaguars (0-2) since 2010 when Elon earned a 7-6 victory over the Jaguars.
 
"I felt like our team had a lot of great energy today," said Elon head coach Kathy Bocock. "I saw us sticking together for seven innings and it ended up being a good day for us."
 
At the Plate
• Elon won the hits battle, 5-3, over IUPUI.
• Rebecca Murray had two hits for the Phoenix, going 2-for-2 to lead Elon at the plate. Freshman Kaitlyn Wells drove in three RBI while Megan White also drove in a pair of runs.
• The Phoenix ended up leaving four baserunners stranded compared to six for IUPUI.
 
In the Circle
• The Phoenix was led by a pair of freshmen in the circle in Taylor Cherry and Isley Duggins. The duo combined for 13 strikeouts while allowing two earned runs.
• Cherry started the game for Elon, going 2.2 frames in her collegiate debut and striking out seven with two walks and two earned runs allowed.
• Duggins (1-0) was credited with the win in relief after tossing 4.1 scoreless innings with six strikeouts while walking four.
 
The Rundown
• Elon went up 4-0 in its bottom half of the opening inning to start the game. The Phoenix loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a single before plating its first run on a bases-loaded walk to White.
• After a strikeout, Elon increased its lead in the bottom of the first thanks to the bat of Wells. The Roswell, Ga., native took an 0-1 pitch and drove in three more runs on a single to put the Phoenix up 4-0.
• IUPUI got two runs back in the top of the third with two outs. Morgan Gilbert reached on a double and scored on an RBI double to left by Kendal Calvert. Calvert followed with a stolen base and crossed the dish on a single down the left field line to trim Elon's lead to two, 4-2.
• Elon made a pitching change as Duggins took over for Cherry in the circle and struck out her first batter to leave two runners on for the Jaguars to close out the third.
• The Phoenix responded with a run in the bottom half of the third. Murray reached on a single to second and stole second to move into scoring position. A passed ball advanced her to third where she eventually scored on an RBI from White to put Elon ahead 5-2.
• Neither team was able to get anything going offensively as the score remained 5-2 going into the seventh. IUPUI had its leadoff hitter reach on a walk, setting the Cougars up for a possible chance to tie or take the lead.
• Duggins was able to work around the leadoff walk, forcing a double play and a strikeout to close out the game for her first collegiate victory.
 
On Deck
Elon is back for the second day of its home tournament, facing IUPUI in a rematch at noon before closing out its day versus Saint Francis (Pa.) in its nightcap at 2:30 p.m.