The Elon University softball team split the first two games of the Hatter Invitational at Stetson University in drastically different outcomes.
The Phoenix used a strong performance on the mound and timely hitting to beat Bethune-Cookman University but then was dominated in every facet of the game in a loss to Stetson Feb. 14 in DeLand, Fla.
Elon 5, Bethune-Cookman 0
The Phoenix jumped on the Wildcats early, scoring four runs in the first. Senior designated hitter Johanna Spencer ripped a double into left-center, scoring two. The next batter, junior third baseman Aly Quintana, smacked a single into left field, scoring Spencer.
But, Elon would score just one run in the remaining six innings. Quintana reached on an error by Wildcats sophomore center fielder Melissa Berouty in the sixth inning which allowed Spencer to score.
The Phoenix pitching staff shut down the Wildcats completely, surrendering five hits and five walks between freshman starter Alli Burdette and junior relievers Caitlin O’Shea and Chelsea White.
Burdette gave up four hits, three walks and struck out one in four innings of work, picking up her second win of the season. O’Shea worked the next two, giving up one hit and walking two. White then closed the game, working a perfect one-two-three seventh with one strikeout.
Stetson 9, Elon 0
In the second game of the Elon’s double-header, the Phoenix was dominated from start to finish in its first loss of the season.
Elon was given a taste of its own medicine, as the Hatter offense jumped on junior starter Chelsea White in the first inning and never looked back.
After holding the Phoenix offense scoreless in the top of the first, senior pitcher Meredith Owen doubled into left center to score freshman right fielder Ten Broeck and give the Hatters a 1-0 lead. In the second, sophomore infielder Morgan Hatch homered to left center to give the hosts a 2-0 lead, and Broeck would later steal home to make it 3-0.
Hatch kept the barrage going with a single in the third to stretch her team’s lead to 4-0.
Stetson then broke the game open in the fourth. Owen hit a two-run homer to left center to increase the lead to 6-0, and sophomore catcher Jessica Griffin would add two more on a single to center.
The Hatters would add a ninth run on a fielder’s choice, and prevented the Phoenix’s offense to score in the top of the fifth to try and extend the game.
With the loss, the Elon falls to 4-1-1 on the season.
The Phoenix will conclude play in the Hatter Invitational Feb. 15 when it plays Campbell University at 11 a.m. before a rematch with Bethune-Cookman at 1:30 p.m.