TALLAHASSEE – The Elon softball team earned a split on opening day at the Dugout Classic hosted by Florida State on Friday. The Phoenix fell in its first game of the day to No. 7/8 Alabama, 7-0, before rebounding with a 10-1 victory over Dartmouth at JoAnne Graf Field.
 
Elon's record moved to 2-9 after matchups against the Crimson Tide and the Big Green.
 
Game One: No. 7/8 Alabama 7, Elon 0
The Crimson Tide took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, using a two-RBI single to plate the first runs of the game and put Elon in a 2-0 deficit.
 
The Phoenix ran into trouble again in the bottom of the third. Alabama placed two runners on with one out following an Elon error before both advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Elon escaped the jam, however, as Allie Dawson helped turn a double play to leave the pair stranded.
 
Alabama added to its lead in the fourth and fifth innings. An RBI single to center field brought in another run in the fourth, while four more runs crossed in the fifth, highlighted by a three-run home run, as the Crimson Tide built a 7-0 advantage after five innings.
 
Elon was unable to generate offense the rest of the way as Alabama pitcher Kaitlyn Pallozzi tossed a perfect game. Pallozzi struck out six in her complete-game effort.
 
Chana Wolfe (0-6) took the loss in the circle for the Phoenix. The Salina, Kansas, native allowed seven hits and four earned runs. Lia Miller pitched 2.0 innings in relief, striking out two while allowing three runs.
 
Game Two: Elon 10, Dartmouth 1
The Phoenix offense wasted little time getting started in Elon's second game of the day. The Maroon and Gold loaded the bases in the top of the first and scored on a bases-loaded walk, a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to take a 3-0 lead.
 
Elon continued its offensive momentum in the second inning. Greta Hessenthaler reached on a leadoff single and moved to second on a stolen base with two outs. After Teagan Baulsir drew a walk, Chloe Hatzopoulos delivered a single to center field, scoring Hessenthaler while an error allowed Baulsir to come home, extending the lead to 5-0.
 
Three more runs crossed for the Phoenix in the top of the third. Hessenthaler reached on a hit-by-pitch with two outs, joining Mary Moss Wirt, who had singled earlier in the frame. Mauri Murray followed with an RBI single to left center to score Wirt. A walk to Payton Swart loaded the bases before another hit-by-pitch, this time to Baulsir, brought in an additional run.
 
Dartmouth made a pitching change, but a wild pitch allowed Murray to score Elon's third run of the inning. Another walk loaded the bases again before the Big Green escaped the frame with a fly out, trailing 8-0.
 
The Big Green broke up the shutout in the bottom of the third. The leadoff batter doubled and later advanced on a single through the left side. A wild pitch brought home Dartmouth's lone run before Elon recorded the final two outs to maintain an 8-1 lead.
 
The Phoenix added two more runs in the top of the seventh to push the margin to 10-1. Hatzopoulos drove in both runs with a single down the left-field line, scoring Allie Dawson and Christina Piotrowski. That would set as the final score as Elon closed out its first day at the tournament with a win.
 
Elon recorded a season-high 14 hits in the contest, with four players posting multi-hit performances. Hatzopoulos finished 3-for-3 with four RBI, a double and a walk. Hessenthaler, Wirt and Wyrick each tallied two hits, while Baulsir added two RBI.
 
Anna Dew earned the win in the circle for Elon, improving to 2-2. The Harrisburg, N.C., native tossed 6.0 innings, allowing one run with five strikeouts.
 
Notes

• Friday marked the first-ever meeting between the Phoenix and the Crimson Tide.
• Murray made her season debut for the Phoenix, appearing briefly in the opener against Alabama before recording an RBI single versus Dartmouth. She finished 1-for-2 with a walk on the day.

 
On Deck
Elon returns for day two of the Dugout Classic on Saturday with rematches against Dartmouth and Alabama. The Phoenix faces the Big Green at 10 a.m. before taking on the Crimson Tide at 5:30 p.m. in the nightcap.