ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team had a pair of setbacks versus its Piedmont Triad rival, UNCG on Saturday, March 2. The Phoenix fell in the opening game to the Spartans, 6-2, before being handed a 7-3 verdict in the nightcap at Hunt Softball Park.
 
Elon fell to 5-12 overall on the season while the Spartans leveled their season record at 10-10 with the doubleheader sweep.
 
Game One: UNCG 6, Elon 2
Phoenix starter McKenna McCard got off to a fast start in the first game, retiring the side in the top of the first with strikeouts. Elon had runners reach scoring position in the home half of the frame with two outs, but they would get stranded after a ground out to the pitcher.
 
McCard added three more strikeouts in the top of the second to keep the Spartans scoreless. Elon responded with a two-run bottom of the second to take the lead. Gabi Schaal and Carley Davis opened the frame with singles before the pair advanced to scoring position on a sac bunt. UNCG nearly finagled its way out of frame after inducing the second out on a strikeout, but Drew Menscer drove a single to center, pushing Schaal and Davis home to give the Phoenix a 2-0 advantage.
 
McCard and the Phoenix got into some trouble in the top half of the fifth. UNCG loaded the bases with no outs before Elon recorded the first out on a strikeout. Elon couldn't escape the jam unharmed as a pair of bases-loaded walks plated two runs to tie the contest at two-all.
 
UNCG scored two more runs in the top of the sixth to break the tie. The Spartans had its first two runners reach on singles before both advanced into scoring position on a sac bunt. Elon recorded the out on the next at bat, but confusion in the infield led to a run scoring from third to break the tie. An RBI single to center added a two-run cushion for the Spartans, 4-2.
 
The Spartans added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh for some insurance as UNCG earned the game one win, 6-2.
 
Elon was held to four hits in the game with Davis accounting for half of that total while going 2-of-3 at the plate. Menscer drove in a season-high two RBI.
 
McCard fell to 1-3 on the season after the junior tossed 6.0 innings and gave up five earned runs off seven hits. She also struck out a season-high eight batters.
 
Game Two: UNCG 7, Elon 3
After both teams were scoreless in the first two innings, the Spartans broke open the scoring in the top of the third. UNCG had a two-run home run before another run came across the plate via a one-out single. Elon recorded the second out on a fielder's choice, but UNCG stayed alive as another runner reached on a walk before a two-RBI double cleared the bases to put the Phoenix down 5-0.
 
The Phoenix got on the scoreboard in the home half of the third. An error allowed Schaal to reach before she was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Reagan Hartley then hit a dribbler between first and second, beating the defense to the base while Schaal scored after the catcher lost the ball on the throw home.
 
UNCG got a run back in the top of the fourth. A sac fly scored the sixth run of the contest for the Spartans as Elon faced a 6-1 deficit. Elon however answered with a sac fly of its own off the bat of Teagan Baulsir in the bottom of the frame to bring the Phoenix within four, 6-2.
 
The Spartans tacked on a run in the top of the fifth. Elon induced the first two outs of the inning, before allowing a runner on via a walk. The Spartans made the Phoenix pay as a double to center scored the runner to give UNCG a 7-2 advantage.
 
On Deck
The Phoenix is back on the diamond tomorrow, March 3, for the series finale against the Spartans in Greensboro, N.C. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the UNCG Softball Stadium.