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

• The Phoenix recorded seven hits in the contest with four extra base hits.
• Allie Dawson went 2-for-4 to pace the Maroon and Gold at the plate while adding a double to her stat line.
• Chloe Hatzopoulos and Julia Tamulski each had a home run while Greta Hessenthaler scored a pair of runs while adding a triple.

In the Circle

• Chana Wolfe (0-4) was credited with the loss after allowing five runs in 1.0 inning of work.
• Abbie Gaynor, Kyra Leonard and Anna Dew also saw time in the circle.
• Dew tossed a team-high 3.0 innings, striking out three while allowing one hit.

The Rundown
The Phoenix struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Hessenthaler reached on a leadoff hit-by-pitch and moved to second on a single from Dawson. A passed ball advanced both runners into scoring position before Hessenthaler scored on a groundout to give Elon a 1-0 lead.
 
Manhattan responded with a seven-run second inning to take control of the game. The Jaspers capitalized on a pair of doubles, a bases-loaded walk and multiple RBI singles to go ahead 7-1.
 
Elon threatened in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with no outs after Peyton Fitzpatrick reached on a walk. Manhattan however worked out of the jam to keep the hosts off the board.
 
The Jaspers extended their lead in the fourth on a sacrifice fly to right, making it 8-1.
 
Elon answered in the bottom half of the fourth. Hessenthaler legged out a two-out triple and later scored on an RBI double from Dawson to trim the deficit to 8-2.
 
Manhattan however pushed its lead back to seven in the top of the sixth, scoring on a Phoenix error to go ahead 9-2.
 
The Maroon and Gold mounted a late rally in the seventh. Hatzopoulos and Tamulski each hit solo home runs to make it 9-5, but it fared too little, too late as 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.