ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team split its Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader versus UNCW on Saturday, April 15, at Hunt Softball Park. The Phoenix began the day with a 6-1 game-one win, but fell in the nightcap, 2-1.
 
The split moved the Phoenix to 16-21 on the season and 9-4 in the CAA standings. UNCW's record now stands at 18-21 on the year with a 12-5 ledger against league opponents.
 
Game One: Elon 6, UNCW 1
A pitching gem from McKenna McCard and highlight plays defensively helped the Phoenix to the opening-game victory to start the series. The contest started with Reagan Hartley making a couple of defensive putouts in the top of the first including helping convert a double play with runners in scoring position to aid the Phoenix escape a jam.
 
Elon took that momentum into the bottom of the first. The Phoenix loaded the bases with two outs before Carley Davis drove in a pair of runs on a double into left center to put Elon ahead 2-0.
 
The Phoenix made the bags full again in the home half of the second with no outs. UNCW made a pitching change, but Elon still took advantage as a free pass to Drew Menscer plated another run for the Phoenix. A pair of sacrifice flies from Allee Seering and Claudia Penny pushed two more across the dish as the Phoenix took a 5-0 after two complete.
 
Both teams went silent offensively until the fifth frame. UNCW led off the inning with a solo home run to cut Elon's lead to four. McCard however was able to recover and retire the next three batters to minimize the damage.
 
Elon got a run back in the bottom half of the fifth. Davis reached on an error and advanced to second on the play. A sac bunt moved her to third before she scored on an RBI from Kaitlyn Wells to regain the five-run cushion for the Phoenix, 6-1.
 
Those would be more than enough run support for McCard, who ended the day holding the Seahawks to just two hits in the complete-game performance. The sophomore allowed just the one earned run off the home run to improve to 5-3 on the season.
 
The Phoenix had four hits in game one by four different players. Davis added her 10^th double of the season while driving in two RBI for her fifth multi-RBI contest this year. Megan Grant scored two runs for the Phoenix.
 
Game Two: UNCW 2, Elon 1
Looking to take charge in game two, the Phoenix attacked in the home half of the first. Grant walked to open the game, but was in danger of being stranded after the next two batters were retired on strikeouts. Elon stayed alive though as Penny singled down the left field line to move Grant to second and in scoring position. Davis came through again as the senior roped a double down the left field line, pushing Grant home to put the Phoenix ahead 1-0.
 
UNCW quickly tied the game at one-all in the top of the second. The Seahawks' Skylar Stockton took the first pitch she saw over the wall in left field as the one-out solo homer knotted the contest at 1-1.
 
A pair of Phoenix errors in the fifth would prove costly and give the Seahawks the go-ahead run. Morgan Britt reached on a one-out error and stole second to move into scoring position on a strikeout. A wild pitch advanced her to third before another error allowed her to cross home plate to put UNCW ahead 2-1.
 
The Phoenix looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch hitter Payton Swart reached on a one-out walk before being joined on the bases by Chloe Hatzopoulos after her single to third. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a sac bunt, leaving the game-tying run 60 feet away with two outs. UNCW however induced the final out on a fly out to right, securing the game two win.
 
McCard started game two and pitched 2.0 innings while allowing three hits and one run with a strikeout. Isley Duggins pitched the remaining 5.0 innings and held the Seahawks hitless while only giving up the one unearned run to fall to 3-8.
 
The Phoenix offense was held to only three hits in game two. Davis added another double to her stat line, the 11^th of the season for her.
 
On Deck
The rubber match between the Phoenix and Seahawks is scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow, April 16, and will air on FloSoftball.