ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team split its two games on the first day at the Phoenix Invitational on Friday, Feb. 17, at Hunt Softball Park. The Phoenix won its first contest of the day, a 3-1 result, versus Fordham, before being shutout 7-0 by Michigan State in its nightcap.
 
Elon moved to 2-5 overall on the season. Fordham fell to 1-5 while Michigan State improved to 4-2.
 
Game One: Elon 3, Fordham 1
Both teams had chances to plate a run in the opening frame with runners reaching scoring position with one out. The Rams loaded the bases after a pair of errors by the Phoenix in the top half of the first with one out, but Elon induced the next two outs to escape the jam.
 
Elon itself loaded the bags with one out in the home half of the first. Chloe Hatzopoulos singled with one out to join Drew Menscer and Carley Davis on the bases with the latter two reaching earlier in the frame on a walk and an error, respectively. The Phoenix could not take advantage as the next two batters were retired to leave the bags full.
 
The Phoenix once again loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third. Hatzopoulos reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on back-to-back singles by Allee Seering and Bella Devesa to put ducks on the pond with one out. A popup and a strikeout would them all stranded as the game remained scoreless after three.
 
Fordham broke the scoring stalemate with an RBI single in the top half of the fifth. Mary Grace O'Neill drove in Kate McGuire after taking a 3-1 pitch to right field to put the Rams up 1-0.
 
Elon responded in the bottom of the fifth frame to take the lead. The Phoenix saw its first two batters set down to begin the inning, but Seering knotted the game at one-all with a solo home run to left field. Elon continued the clutch two-out hitting as Devesa followed with a triple to center before she scored on a Claudia Penny single to put the maroon and gold ahead 2-1.
 
An error by the Rams in the bottom of the sixth added an insurance run for the Phoenix. Reagan Hartley singled to lead off the inning before stealing second to move into scoring position. A sac bunt moved her to third before an error by the shortstop allowed her to cross the dish at home to put Elon up 3-1.
 
Fordham would have a runner reach in the top half of the seventh with one out, but the Phoenix finagled its way out of the inning unharmed as the next two batters were retired to give the Phoenix the 3-1 win.
 
Elon ended the game with 10 hits, its second straight game with double-digit hits. Four players had multi-hit games for the Phoenix with Hartley (2-for-3), Devesa (2-for-3), Hatzopoulos (2-for-4) and Seering (2-for-4) leading the team at the plate.
 
Kaitlin King was credited with the win to improve to 2-1 on the season after pitching one scoreless frame in relief. Meredith Wells earned the save for the maroon and gold after going 2.0 innings and giving up just two hits. Starter McKenna McCard tossed 4.0 innings and allowed one earned run with two strikeouts.
 
Game Two: Michigan State 7, Elon 0
The Spartans got off to a quick start in the second game of the day for the Phoenix. MSU's Mandy Esman led off the game with a solo home run down the left field line to put Elon in a quick 1-0 hole in the top of the first.
 
Another homer by the Spartans tacked on two more runs for the visitors. AJ Militello blasted a two-run shot to left field to put Michigan State up 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning.
 
MSU added a three-spot in its home half of the fifth before adding its final run of the game in the top of the sixth. That would be more than enough run support for Spartans' pitcher Ashley Miller, who would go on to hold the Phoenix to one hit in her complete-game effort. She also struck out 10 batters to improve to 3-2 on the season.
 
Taylor Cherry (0-1) received the loss in the circle for Elon. The sophomore pitched 3.1 innings with four hits and three runs allowed with four strikeouts. Seering had the lone hit for the Phoenix, a single in the bottom of the second.
 
On Deck
Day two of the Phoenix Invitational is set for Saturday, Feb. 18, as Elon takes on Saint Francis in its lone game of the day. Opening pitch is set for 12 p.m.