TOWSON, Md. – The Elon University softball team increased its winning streak to six games after the Phoenix swept Towson in its Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader on Saturday, April 23. Elon took game one, 4-3, over the Tigers before clinching the series with a 4-2 victory in game two at Towson Softball Stadium.
 
The Phoenix improved to 25-18 overall on the year and to 8-6 in CAA play. Towson fell to 13-28 and 3-11 in the league standings.
 
Game One: Elon 4, Towson 3
The Tigers struck first in game one, jumping to a 3-0 in its half of the third inning. Towson hit a pair of home runs in the frame to put the Phoenix in a 3-0 hole.
 
Elon responded to tie the contest in the top of the fourth. The Phoenix had its first two batters retired quickly before staying alive to load the bases with a pair of singles and a walk. Keagan Goldwait worked a full count herself before tying the game on a bases-clearing double to left center to knot the game at 3-3.
 
The Phoenix took the lead in the top of the fifth. Megan Grant led off the inning with a double and scored on a one-out single to left by Carley Davis that put the Phoenix ahead 4-3. Elon loaded the bases again in the frame with two outs, but this time could not add to its lead as a fielder's choice got Towson out of the jam.
 
The Tigers were able to get two runners on in the bottom of the seventh with one out, but Elon induced the final outs on a fielder's choice and a ground out to secure the 4-3 win.
 
The Phoenix recorded 10 hits in the contest with eight of its nine players in the lineup recording at least a base hit. Grant (2-for-4) and Chloe Hatzopoulos (2-for-4) led the way at the plate for the Phoenix while Goldwait tied her season-high with three RBI.
 
Alexa Nemeth won her seventh straight decision in relief for the Phoenix, improving to 8-2 on the year. The Mooresville, N.C., native pitched 4.2 innings and allowed just two hits with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Game Two: Elon 4, Towson 2
Towson added its first run of the day in the bottom of the first. The Tigers plated a run on an RBI triple to left center to put Elon down 1-0 early.
 
The Tigers kept the Phoenix offense quiet until the top of the fourth. Davis tied the contest with her leadoff home run to start the inning to deadlock the contest at one-all. Elon later got a runner to second in the inning, but could not drive her in as the inning closed on a fly out.
 
Elon leaped in front in the top of the fifth. After Drew Menscer reached on a fielder's choice with two outs, Rebecca Murray drove her in on an RBI double to left center to put Elon in front 2-1.
 
The Phoenix added some insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Allee Seering blasted a solo home run down the left field line while another Murray RBI double increased Elon's advantage to 4-1 going into the bottom of the frame.
 
Towson got a run back on an RBI on a groundout, but retired the next two batters to end the threat and claim its third straight CAA series with the 4-2 win.
 
Grant added her second multi-hit game of the day as the junior was 2-for-2 in the second contest. Murray also had a pair of base hits while going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.
 
Kaitlin King had a strong start in the circle for Elon, going to 2-0 on the year. The junior allowed two earned runs in her 6.0 innings of action while Taylor Cherry came on for her second save of the season in the seventh.
 
On Deck
The Phoenix will wrap up the series with the finale against Towson on Sunday, April 24, at 1 p.m.