ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team got back on the winning side to start its 11-game homestand, sweeping St. Bonaventure in its doubleheader against the Bonnies on Saturday, Feb. 26. The Phoenix took game one, 8-0, before closing out the day with a 4-2 victory in the nightcap at Hunt Softball Park.
 
The Phoenix improved to 9-3 overall on the season while St. Bonaventure falls to 1-5.
 
Game One: Elon 8, St. Bonaventure 0 (5)
Sophomore Gabi Schaal and freshman Isley Duggins highlighted the Phoenix's performance in the opening game against the Bonnies. Schaal opened the scoring for the maroon and gold in the home half of the first as she worked a full count before connecting on a solo home run to put Elon up 1-0.
 
A St. Bonaventure fielding error helped tack on another run for the Phoenix in the bottom of the second to move ahead 2-0. Elon added to that total in its home half of the third as Kaitlyn Wells' two-out RBI single drove in Schaal, who reached earlier in the frame on a double, to make the score 3-0.
 
Elon put the game out of reach with a five-run bottom of the fourth inning. The Phoenix loaded the bases with one out before Megan Grant drove in a run on her single through the left side. Another Bonnies' error on the play led to a second run coming across the dish for Elon before Schaal drove in two more on her double to left center. Schaal would eventually come home on a wild pitch for Elon's fifth run of the frame and an 8-0 advantage over the Bonnies that would set as the final score.
 
Schaal went 3-for-3 with all of them being for extra bases with her second home run of the season and two doubles. Megan White went 2-for-3 for the Phoenix, who registered 10 hits total as a team.
 
The eight runs were more than enough run support for Duggins as the Burlington, N.C., native allowed no hits in her 4.0 innings of work while walking two and striking out three. The run-rule victory improved her record to 3-1 on the season.
 
Game Two: Elon 4, St. Bonaventure 2
Schaal continued great play from the opening game into the start of the second. Grant led off the bottom of the first on a triple before scoring on Schaal's single into left field. Schaal would eventually score on an RBI from Keagan Goldwait to put the Phoenix ahead 2-0.
 
Grant added another run to the scoreboard in the bottom of the second. The junior hit a two-out single up the middle to drive in Drew Menscer, who reached earlier on a fielder's choice, to increase Elon's lead to 3-0.
 
The Bonnies' offense came alive in the top of the fourth to make it a one-run game. St. Bonaventure had its first two batters of the inning reach on a walk and a single. Elon induced the next two outs on a strikeout and fly out, but a two-out double to right center by Olivia Moon broke the Bonnies' shutout and cut the Phoenix's lead to one, 3-2. After another batter was walked, Elon was able to finagle its way out of the jam as a grounder closed the inning.
 
Elon got an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. Rebecca Murray drove a two-out double to left center, scoring Schaal from second to put the Phoenix up by two, 4-2.
 
The Phoenix held on to that lead as Elon held the Bonnies hitless with only one runner reaching in the final two innings.
 
Grant matched Schaal's performance at the plate from the opening game, going 3-for-3 with her fourth triple of the season and an RBI. Schaal scored two runs for the maroon and gold while hitting 1-for-3. Murray recorded Elon's lone other hit in the game with her fourth double of the season.
 
McKenna McCard (1-0) earned her first career win in relief after she shut down the Bonnies in the sixth and seventh frames. The Ashburn, Ga., native struck out four batters in her 2.0 innings of work, in which she held the Bonnies hitless. Starter McKenzie Weber also did not allow a hit in her 3.0 innings of action and struck out a pair of batters.
 
On Deck
The Phoenix is back on the diamond tomorrow, Feb. 27, for the series finale against the Bonnies. The start time of that contest is set for 12 p.m.