ELON – The Elon softball team could not overcome a big early inning by Manhattan and fell 9-5 on Friday at Hunt Softball Park on the second day of its home tournament.
 
The loss dropped the Phoenix to 1-6 on the season, while Manhattan improved to 2-5.
 
At the Plate

• The Phoenix totaled seven hits, including four extra-base hits.
• Allie Dawson went 2-for-4 with a double to lead Elon offensively.
• Chloe Hatzopoulos and Julia Tamulski each hit a home run.
• Greta Hessenthaler tripled and scored two runs.

In the Circle

• Chana Wolfe (0-4) took the loss after allowing five runs in one inning of work.
• Abbie Gaynor, Kyra Leonard and Anna Dew also appeared in the circle.
• Dew logged a team-high three innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.

The Rundown
The Phoenix opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Hessenthaler reached on a leadoff hit-by-pitch and moved to second on Dawson's single. A passed ball advanced both runners before Hessenthaler scored on a groundout to make it 1-0.

Manhattan answered with a seven-run second inning to take control. The Jaspers used two doubles, multiple RBI singles and a bases-loaded walk to build a 7-1 advantage.

Elon threatened in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with no outs after Peyton Fitzpatrick drew a walk, but Manhattan worked out of the jam without allowing a run.

The Jaspers added a sacrifice fly in the fourth to extend the lead to 8-1. Elon responded in the bottom half as Hessenthaler tripled with two outs and scored on Dawson's RBI double to cut the deficit to 8-2.

Manhattan made it 9-2 in the sixth on a Phoenix error.

Elon rallied in the seventh with solo home runs from Hatzopoulos and Tamulski, but Manhattan recorded the final outs to secure the win.

On Deck
The third day of the Phoenix Invitational continues Saturday as Elon plays Dayton at noon. That game will stream on FloCollege.