ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team earned a pair of victories in walk-off fashion in its doubleheader matchup versus UNCG on Saturday, March 19, as the Phoenix pulled off a 4-2 game one win before closing out the day with a 4-3 triumph in extras in the nightcap at Hunt Softball Park.
 
The Phoenix improved to 15-11 overall on the season and snapped its season-high five-game losing skid. The wins also secured Elon's first series victory over UNCG since 2017 as the Spartans fell to 16-10 on the year.
 
Game One: Elon 4, UNCG 2
Game one became a battle in the circle between Elon's Taylor Cherry and UNCG's Morgan Scott as the pitchers' duel resulted in no runs scored in the first three innings. The Spartans however broke the scoring stalemate in its half of the fourth on a one-out solo home run to right center that put UNCG ahead 1-0.
 
The Spartans added another solo home run to push their lead to 2-0 in the top of the sixth. Grace Loftin took a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left field to double UNCG's lead.
 
Elon's offense, which was held to one hit going into the bottom of the seventh, came alive in its home half of the frame. Raelyn McGarry reached on a one-out walk and advanced to second on a Megan White single through the left side. McGarry would score on a UNCG error to break the shutout for the Phoenix while Elon had runners on first and second with still only one out.
 
The Phoenix provided the walk-off heroics on the next at bat as Keagan Goldwait took the first offering she saw over the wall in left field with the three-run homer giving Elon the 4-2 victory in game one over its longtime rival.
 
Elon had three hits in game one by three different players. Goldwait added her third home run of the season and drove in a season-tying high three RBI for the Phoenix at the plate.
 
Cherry improved to 4-3 on the season as the freshman allowed six hits and two runs in her complete-game effort to win the pitchers' duel versus Scott. Cherry also struck out two batters.
 
Game Two: Elon 4, UNCG 3 (10)
At the start of game two, the Spartans answered first in the top of the opening frame. A two-out single by UNCG's Blayke Batten drove in Delaney Cumbie, who reached earlier on a leadoff single as the Phoenix faced an early 1-0 hole.
 
The Phoenix bats did not take long to respond, answering with a two-spot in the bottom half of the first. Megan Grant reached on a one-out walk before Gabi Schaal connected on a two-run home run down the left field line to put the Phoenix ahead 2-1.
 
UNCG got the lead back in the top of the fifth thanks to a Phoenix error that led to a pair of runs crossing the dish. The miscue put the Spartans back in front 3-2.
 
Elon tied the game at three-all in the bottom of the sixth thanks again to the bat of Schaal. The sophomore earned her second round tripper of the game to leadoff the bottom of the inning to knot the contest at 3-3. Goldwait followed with a double to give the Phoenix the potential go-ahead run in scoring position before a stolen base by pinch runner Allie Eith put the maroon and gold even closer to move in front. The Phoenix could not move her any closer as the next three batters were retired to leave Eith stranded at third.
 
The game would move into extras where the Phoenix once again earned the walk-off victory in the bottom of the 10^th. Down to its final out with a runner on first, Elon began to rally with the bottom of its lineup doing the damage. Bella Devesa and Raelyn McGarry both hit two-out singles to load the bases for Elon with Drew Menscer coming to the plate. Menscer worked a 3-1 count before drawing a free pass to plate the Phoenix's second walk-off win of the day in the 4-3 victory.
 
Elon matched its season-high in hits with 12 in the contest. Schaal (3-for-5) and Goldwait (3-for-4) led the charge offensively for Elon with Schaal finishing with her two home runs and three total RBI. Devesa and McGarry also tallied a season-high in hits with the duo going 2-for-4 each.
 
McKenzie Weber got the start in the circle for game two as the Overland Park, Kan., native went the distance pitching all 10.0 innings and gave up eight hits and three runs allowed, but only one of those earned. She also struck out three batters.
 
On Deck
Elon closes out the series tomorrow, March 20, in the finale in Greensboro, N.C. That game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at the UNCG Softball Stadium.