ELON – Behind a six-run opening frame, the Elon softball team rode that early momentum to a 9-2 victory over Stony Brook in game two of its CAA series Saturday at Hunt Softball Park.
 
Elon (15-30, 9-11 CAA) capitalized offensively while taking advantage of defensive miscues by the Seawolves (18-25, 9-11 CAA) to level the series and force a rubber match on Sunday.
 
At the Plate

• The Phoenix recorded 10 hits with eight of nine starters registering at least one. Reili Gardner and Mary Moss Wirt each had two hits and an RBI.
• Teagan Baulsir added her fourth home run of the season and drove in two runs. Greta Hessenthaler had Elon's other extra-base hit with a double.
• Elon showed patience at the plate, drawing six walks while striking out just twice.

In the Circle

• Lia Miller went the distance for the Phoenix, allowing five hits and two runs to improve to 4-5 with a complete-game effort.
• Miller allowed just one hit over the final three innings and stranded seven Seawolves runners. 

The Rundown
Miller and the Phoenix opened the game strong, retiring the first two batters in the top of the first before running into trouble. A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases, but Miller induced the final out on a grounder to escape the jam.
 
In the home half of the inning, Elon used four hits and two errors to plate six runs. Hessenthaler doubled to deep center to lead off the frame and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a fielder's choice off the bat of Jenna Klein. The rally continued as the Phoenix built a 6-0 lead after one.
 
Stony Brook and Elon traded runs in the third inning. Naiah Ackerman hit a one-out solo home run to put the Seawolves on the board in the top half. Elon responded in the bottom of the inning as Wirt delivered a two-out single to left, driving in Lani Wyrick, who reached on a walk, to make it 7-1.
 
The Seawolves trimmed the deficit to 7-2 on a sacrifice fly in the fourth, but Elon added insurance in the sixth. Wirt singled to open the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before Baulsir launched a two-run homer to extend the lead to 9-2.
 
Miller worked around a leadoff single in the seventh, ending the game with a double play to secure the win and even the series.
 
On Deck
The rubber match is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start Sunday at Hunt Softball Park. Prior to the game, the Phoenix will hold Senior Day ceremonies at 12:20 p.m., recognizing Gardner, Mauri Murray, Wirt, Payton Swart and Chana Wolfe.