ELON – The Elon softball team surrendered a late lead, falling to Dayton, 9-8, on the third day of the Phoenix Invitational on Saturday at Hunt Softball Park.
 
The loss drops the Phoenix to 1-7 on the season while Dayton improves to 6-1.
 
At the Plate

•  The Phoenix recorded a season-high 11 hits in the contest. Greta Hessenthaler led the way, going 3-for-5 with a double.
• Teagan Baulsir added her second home run of the season and finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. Chloe Hatzopoulos also went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Maroon and Gold, while Jenna Klein and Reili Gardner added a double and a triple, respectively.

 
In the Circle

• Anna Dew was credited with the loss for the Phoenix, falling to 1-2 on the season. The junior pitched 3.1 innings in relief and allowed nine hits and seven runs, four earned, while striking out five.
• Lia Miller started the game and also tossed 3.1 innings, allowing six hits and two runs with one strikeout.

 
The Rundown
Dayton used a two-run homer to get off to a fast start in the top of the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead. Katelin Goodwin lifted a 1-1 pitch over the wall in deep center, scoring herself and Kirnan Bailey, who reached earlier on a single.
 
The Phoenix answered with two runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game. Lani Wyrick reached on a hit-by-pitch to lead off the inning and moved to second on a stolen base. Mary Moss Wirt followed with a walk, and both runners advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Dayton recorded the second out of the inning after catching Wyrick in a rundown between third and home.
 
Gardner then worked a full count before delivering a triple to left field to score Wirt. Hessenthaler followed with a single to shallow left, driving in Gardner to tie the contest at 2-2.
 
Elon took the lead with two more runs in the bottom of the third. Hatzopoulos opened the frame with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Baulsir then launched a two-run home run on a 1-1 count to give Elon a 4-2 advantage.
 
The Phoenix plated another run in the bottom of the fifth as Peyton Fitzpatrick drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to center, extending the lead to 5-2.
 
Dayton cut into the advantage in the top of the sixth with a pair of doubles, trimming the deficit to 5-4.
 
Elon responded in the bottom half of the inning. Hessenthaler led off with a double and was replaced on the bases by Brooke Camacho, who moved to third on a groundout. Hatzopoulos then doubled to left center to score Camacho before later stealing home to push the Phoenix lead to 7-4 heading into the final inning.
 
The Flyers mounted their comeback in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of five hits and an Elon error to score five runs and move ahead 9-7.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Wyrick reached on a leadoff hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on a groundout. After a strikeout threatened to end the rally, Klein pinch hit and drove a double to center to score Wyrick and cut the deficit to one with the tying run in scoring position.
 
The rally would fall short on the next at-bat, however, as a flyout ended the game and secured the 9-8 win for the Flyers.
 
On Deck
Elon returns to Hunt Softball Park on Tuesday, Feb. 17, hosting Duke. First pitch between the Phoenix and the Blue Devils is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will stream on FloCollege.