ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team split its two games on Saturday, March 1 as the Phoenix fell to Sacred Heart, 4-1, in its opener before closing the day with an 8-4 win over UNCG at Hunt Softball Park.
 
The doubleheader split pushed Elon's record to 6-9 on the season.
 
Sacred Heart 4, Elon 1
After both teams were held scoreless for the first three frames, Elon scratched across the first run in the bottom of the fourth. Kaitlyn Wells tripled to lead off the inning and scored off a Gabi Schaal sac fly to left to put the Phoenix up 1-0.
 
The Pioneers responded with their first runs of the game to take the lead away from the Phoenix in the top of the fifth. Sacred Heart had a runner reach on a walk with two outs before hitting a two-run homer down the left field line to take a 2-1 advantage.
 
Sacred Heart added to its lead with a solo home run in the top of the sixth. The Pioneers led off the frame with a round-tripper to left to put the Phoenix down 3-1.
 
Elon got into position to add some runs of its own in the home half of the sixth. Greta Hessenthaler and Allee Seering both reached on singles to lead off the inning, putting the tying run at the plate. The Phoenix loaded the bases with one out after Schaal drew a walk, but the Pioneers induced the next two outs on a strikeout and a ground out.
 
Sacred Heart added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a two-out, RBI single to right, increasing its lead to 4-1.
 
Elon got one runner on in the bottom of the seventh, but could not spark a rally as the Phoenix would fall 4-1.
 
The Phoenix recorded six hits in the contest by six different batters. Elon also stranded six runners on base.
 
Taylor Cherry (0-3) struck out four batters in her complete-game effort. The Suffolk, Va., native allowed three earned runs in the game.
 
Elon 8, UNCG 4
The Spartans took the early lead in the opening frame. UNCG scored off a double down the left field line, pushing across the first run of the contest.
 
Elon took the lead in the bottom of the third. Chloe Hatzopoulos drew a walk to start the inning and was joined on the bases by Hessenthaler after a hit-by-pitch. A one-out single to right center by Kaitlyn Wells scored Hatzopoulos while a sac fly to right from Schaal pushed Hessenthaler home as the Phoenix went in front, 2-1.
 
UNCG tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth inning. With runners on first and second with one out, the Spartans scored off an Elon error to knock the game at two-all.
 
The Phoenix responded with a six-spot in the home half of the sixth. Wells opened with a leadoff double to get into immediate scoring position before being joined on the bases by Schaal after the latter drew a walk. Elon then loaded the bases after Kayla Wilson reached on a fielder's choice, but UNCG failed to get the lead runner out at third.
 
With ducks on the pond with no outs, Reagan Hartley drove roller to second. The ball was misplayed by the defense with the error allowing Wells and Schaal to score and break the tie. On the next at bat, Peyton Fitzpatrick drove a double over the head of the left fielder, clearing the bases for two more runs for the Phoenix, who took a 6-2 advantage. Elon added a pair of insurance runs before the close of the inning, taking an 8-2 lead to the seventh.
 
UNCG rallied with a couple of runs in the seventh inning, Elon would hold on to split its doubleheader with the 8-4 win over the Spartans.
 
Both teams were tied with six hits each. Kaitlyn Wells accounted for half of the Phoenix's total as the senior went 3-of-4 at the dish with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Fitzpatrick also added a double and a pair of RBI for the Phoenix.
 
Lia Miller improved to 3-0 on the season as the sophomore allowed two earned runs in her complete-game performance.
 
On Deck
The Phoenix plays Sacred Heart and UNCG in a rematch tomorrow, March 2. Elon opens versus against the Pioneers at 11 a.m. followed by the host Spartans at 4 p.m. in Greensboro, N.C.