GREENSBORO, N.C. – Senior Kaitlyn Wells had herself a day, hitting a pair of homers with five RBI on the day as the Elon University softball team split its games versus Sacred Heart and at UNCG on Sunday, March 2. The Phoenix won its opening game versus the Pioneers, 9-6, before falling to the host Spartans, 16-4, in the nightcap at UNCG Softball Stadium.
 
Elon falls to 7-10 on the season.
 
Elon 9, Sacred Heart 6
Elon got off to a fast start, leading 3-0 after the top of the first. Allee Seering reached with a one-out single before stealing second to move into scoring position. Kaitlyn Wells helped make the path easier for Seering as she connected on a two-run home run on the next at, giving the Phoenix a 2-0 lead. Kayla Wilson reached on a two-out walk before advancing to second off a wild pitch. Reagan Hartley drove her in on a single through the right side, putting the Phoenix up 3-0.
 
The Phoenix added two more runs in the top of the second. Chloe Hatzopoulos earned a one-out free pass before she scored off a Greta Hessenthaler double to left center. Hessenthaler advanced to second after a grounder recorded the second out, but Wells added another RBI to her stat column as her single through the left side drove in Hessenthaler to put the Phoenix up 5-0.
 
Three more runs would cross the dish in for the maroon and gold in the top of the fourth. Hessenthaler singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a walk to Allee Seering. The Pioneers induced a double play on the next at bat before Schaal drove her third homer of the year on a two-run bash to left center. A Sacred Heart wild pitch added the eighth run of the contest for the Phoenix with Wilson coming home to put Elon up 8-0.
 
Sacred Heart would answer offensive in its half of the fourth, scoring three runs to cut the Phoenix's lead to 8-3. Elon added an insurance run in the top of the fifth with Schaal driving in Lani Wyrick off a grounder to put the Phoenix up 9-3.
 
The Pioneers however made things interesting as they threatened in the bottom of the seventh. A few Elon miscues led to Sacred Heart loading the bases with one out before scoring three runs on a pair of singles, cutting its deficit to 9-6. Sacred Heart would get the go-ahead and potential walk-off run at the plate after loading the bases again with one out, but Elon finagled its way out of the jam and retired the next two batters to come away with the game one victory.
 
The Phoenix registered 14 hits in the contest, setting a new season-high in a single-game. Kaitlyn Wells went 3-of-4 with three RBI and her team-best fourth homer of the season. The senior also has six multi-hit games on the season, including her second straight game with three base knocks. Schaal's home run was the 30^th in her career, joining Elon Hall of Famers Caleigh Nester (36) and Tomeka Watson (34) as the only players in school history with 30 or more round trippers.
 
McKenna McCard took the win in the circle for the Phoenix, improving to 2-2 on the year. The senior allowed no earned runs and set a new career-high with nine strikeouts in her 6.2 innings of work.
 
UNCG 16, Elon 4
Elon got into some early trouble against the Spartans in the bottom of the first. UNCG scored the first run of the game on a one-out RBI single up the middle then two more runs came across on a two-out double down the third base line as the Phoenix faced a 3-0 deficit.
 
The Spartans then put up 10 runs in the bottom of the second, nine of those coming with two outs. The big inning put the Phoenix down 13-0 after two complete.
 
Elon rallied to score a pair of runs in the top of the third and the top of the fourth innings. Kaitlyn Wells added her second homer of the day with a two-run hit going over left field in the third. Wells drove in Seering, who reached earlier in the frame on a leadoff walk.
 
The Phoenix scored two more runs in the fourth on RBI singles from Schaal and Wilson as Elon trailed by nine, 13-4, after the inning. UNCG added three runs in the bottom of the fourth before the game was wrapped with the 16-4 victory in the following frame.
 
Wells went 1-for-1 while adding her fifth homer of the year. Overall, Elon had eight hits in the game with Schaal, Wilson and Lani Wyrick going 2-of-3 from the plate.
 
On Deck
The Phoenix travels to another ACC foe next Tuesday, March 4, heading to Duke. Opening pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.