ELON, N.C. – A sixth-inning home run from senior Keagan Goldwait helped the Elon University softball team to a game two victory over UMass-Lowell as the Phoenix split its doubleheader versus the River Hawks on Saturday, Feb. 19, on the second day at the Phoenix Invitational.
 
Elon (6-2) fell to UMass-Lowell (4-3) in its opening game of the day, 3-0, before rebounding with a 4-3 win in its nightcap thanks to Goldwait's first homer of the season. The Phoenix is now 2-2 at the tournament going into its final game tomorrow versus Morgan State.
 
Game One: UMass-Lowell 3, Elon 0
The River Hawks struck first in the opening inning of the first game. Olivia Labbe reached on a walk and advanced to third on a stolen base and a Phoenix error. She would score on a wild pitch to plate the first run of the game.
 
Elon had a chance to answer in the home half of the first after loading the bases with two outs. Megan Grant reached on an error and moved to second on a single from Rebecca Murray. Goldwait joined them on the bases after she earned a free pass to load the bases, but a ground out back to the pitcher left them stranded.
 
UMass-Lowell doubled its lead in the top of the third. The River Hawks scored an RBI off a fielder's choice from Cayla Tulley with two outs. Another run crossed the dish for UMass-Lowell in the fourth on an RBI single from Ryley White to put the River Hawks up 3-0.
 
The Phoenix only was able to get a runner in scoring position once after the fourth inning when Raelyn McGarry reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third with two outs. A groundout would leave her stranded as the game would end with a River Hawks win.
 
The shutout was the first of the season for the Phoenix offense, who tallied four hits compared to nine allowed for the River Hawks. Isley Duggins (2-1) was credited with the loss after pitching 2.1 innings with four hits and two runs allowed, one earned, with four walks.
 
Game Two: Elon 4, UMass-Lowell 3
In the second game, neither team generated much offensively until the third inning. Labbe reached on a one-out fielding error for the River Hawks and would score on a two-out single to center to put UMass-Lowell up 1-0.
 
Elon got the run back in the bottom of the frame thanks to some heady play on the base paths. Allie Eith drew a walk and stole second to move into scoring with one out. A fielder's choice advanced her to third before she crossed the dish while the defenders were occupied trying to tag a runner between first and second to tie the game.
 
UMass-Lowell kept the scoring going, plating runs in the top of the fourth and fifth frames to expand its lead to 3-1.
 
As the game moved into the bottom of the sixth, Elon's offense finally came to life. A pair of doubles from Murray and Kaitlyn Wells gave the Phoenix the tying runs on base as Goldwait came to bat with one out. After working a 2-2 count, the Sugar Land, Texas, native belted a three-run home run to left, giving the Phoenix its first lead of the afternoon.
 
The Phoenix worked around a leadoff walk and a single by the River Hawks in the seventh to secure the win and earn the split of the twin bill.
 
Goldwait was the only player with multi-hits for the Phoenix as she accounted for half of their hit total after going 2-for-3 with three RBI. It was also the first home run for the senior since hitting one versus Towson in the CAA Tournament during her freshman season.
 
Taylor Cherry was lights out in the circle, moving to 2-1 in the complete game win. The Suffolk, Va., native allowed eight hits and three runs, with one of those being earned, while matching her season-high with eight strikeouts.
 
On Deck
Elon is back for the final day of the Phoenix Invitational, taking on Morgan State in the tournament finale at 2 p.m.