Elon University Athletics

ELON – Despite holding an early advantage, the Elon softball team suffered a 7-3 setback versus Tarleton State on Friday in its opening game this weekend at Hunt Softball Park.
 
Elon falls to 7-17 on the season, while Tarleton State improves to 18-9 in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Both teams will face each other again in a rematch on Sunday at noon.
 
At the Plate

• The Phoenix recorded nine hits as a squad but left eight runners on base in the contest. Seven members registered at least one hit with Mary Moss Wirt (2-for-2) and Mauri Murray (2-for-4) leading the way.
• Payton Swart drove in two RBI for the Phoenix – her second multi-RBI game of the year – while going 1-for-2. Greta Hessenthaler added another RBI for the Maroon and Gold. 

In the Circle

• Anna Dew went the distance for Elon, suffering the loss to fall to 5-4. Dew allowed 10 hits and seven runs, but only four were earned. She also struck out five batters and walked two. 

The Rundown
Elon struck first in the bottom of the second, all with two outs. With runners in scoring position, Swart hit an infield single just out of the reach of the shortstop, pushing two home as the Phoenix took a 2-0 advantage. After Reili Gardner singled to move Swart to second, an RBI single to center from Hessenthaler added the third run of the frame as Elon led 3-0 after two.
 
The Texans mounted their own two-out rally in the top of the third to take the lead. Tarleton State got on the board with an RBI single, making it a two-run game with runners on first and second. The extended life in the inning paid off for the Texans, who took a 4-3 lead after a three-run homer before the final out of the frame was recorded.
 
The Phoenix got into a jam in the top of the fourth. Tarleton State had its first two batters reach on singles with both moving into scoring position with no outs. Another single loaded the bases, but the Phoenix induced a double play on the next at-bat before escaping the inning on a flyout.
 
Elon got into prime position to tie or retake the lead in the home half of the fifth. Chloe Hatzopoulos reached on a one-out single before being joined on the bases by Lani Wyrick after a Tarleton State error, allowing Hatzopoulos to move to third. Wyrick then stole second to give the Phoenix runners in scoring position with one out, but the Texans worked their way out of the inning on back-to-back popups to leave the pair stranded.
 
Tarleton State added to its lead with a three-run top of the seventh, moving ahead 7-3. Elon was able to get a pair of runners on with two outs in the bottom of the frame, but a strikeout ended the threat.
 
On Deck
Elon hosts Lehigh on Saturday for its second game this weekend. Opening pitch between the Phoenix and the Mountain Hawks is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.