ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team split its two games on the second day at its home tournament, the Cardinal Invitational, on Saturday, March 5. The Phoenix earned an 11-3 win over Detroit Mercy in its opening game before falling to Michigan State, 3-1, in its nightcap.
 
The split moved the Phoenix to 11-6 overall on the season heading into the third and final day of the tournament.
 
Game One: Elon 11, Detroit Mercy 3 (5)
Elon started its first game of the day very strong as Megan Grant led off the bottom of the first on a triple to left center. After a pair of pop ups, Grant would score on a two-out double from Megan White to plate the first run of the game.
 
The Phoenix added six more runs in its home half of the second. Elon loaded the bases with one out before Grant drew a free pass to score another run. The Phoenix added five more runs in the inning capped off by White's two-run home run over the wall down the left field line to give Elon a 7-0 cushion.
 
The Titans put up a three spot in the top of the third, but Elon got those runs back in its home half of the frame. The Phoenix rallied with two outs to score those three runs on an RBI single from Chloe Hatzopoulos and a two-RBI double from Gabi Schaal to push the lead back to seven, 10-3.
 
Hatzopoulos added to the final tally in the bottom of the fifth as singled up the middle to score Raelyn McGarry, who reached earlier on a leadoff single.
 
The Phoenix had a season-high in runs (11), hits (12) and RBI (10). Four players recorded multi-hit performances in Grant (2-for-2), White (2-for-2), Kaitlyn Wells (2-for-2) and Hatzopoulos (2-for-2). Schaal and White tied for the team lead with three RBI each while Hatzopoulos added two.
 
Isley Duggins received the win for Elon in the circle moving to 4-1. In her 4.0 innings pitched, the Burlington, N.C., native allowed five hits and three runs with three strikeouts. Katie Hoover pitched the final frame in relief allowing one hit with a strikeout.
 
Game Two: Michigan State 3, Elon 1
Both teams traded runs in the first inning. The Spartans scored on an RBI to center field in the top half of the frame, but Schaal answered with a one-out solo home run in the bottom to tie the game at one-all after the first.
 
The Spartans retook the lead in the top of the fourth. Courtney Callahan drove a one-out single into left field, scoring Mackenzie Mack, who reached earlier in the inning on a double. Elon induced the next two outs on a fielder's choice and a ground out, but faced a 2-1 deficit.
 
Michigan State doubled its lead in the top of the sixth behind some Phoenix miscues. Mack doubled to lead off the inning before scoring off an Elon error to increase the Spartans' lead to 3-1.
 
Elon was held to only one base hit from the fourth inning on as the Spartans shut down the Phoenix offense to hang on for the 3-1 victory.
 
The Phoenix had five hits total in the game by five different players. Schaal added the lone RBI for the Phoenix with her fourth homer of the season.
 
Alexa Nemeth took the loss to fall to 1-1. In her first start of the season, the Mooresville, N.C., native allowed two earned runs in her 5.0 innings while striking out two.
 
On Deck
Elon closes out the Cardinal Invite with a pair of games tomorrow versus Detroit Mercy and East Carolina with the first game versus the Titans starting at 12 p.m.