The Elon University softball team opened up its weekend series with Georgia Southern University by dropping both games of Saturday’s doubleheader, 7-3, and 5-4 in eight innings.
In the first game, the Eagles jumped on the Phoenix’s sophomore starter Kayla Caruso right away with three runs in the first and two more in the second.
With one out in the bottom of the first, senior shortstop Kourtny Thomas pounded a three run home run to spot her team a 3-0 lead.
In the next inning, junior center fielder Breanna McLendon, who had reached on an infield single, stole second. Phoenix catcher Carey Million attempted to throw her out but threw the ball into center, scoring junior second baseman Lexi Allen.
Two batters later, senior third baseman Shelby Morrill lofted a fly ball to left that was deep enough to score McLendon and stretch the Eagles’ lead to 5-0.
In the top of the third, the Phoenix pulled within two on a three-run home run hit by senior center fielder Carleigh Nester down the left field line.
But the Eagles put the final nail in the Phoenix’s coffin with two more in the bottom of the fifth.
After a leadoff double down the left field line from junior right fielder Kaitlyn Johnson, sophomore catcher A.J. Hamilton singled, scoring Johnson. Four batters later, sophomore pinch hitter Dominque Grossman grounded out to second base to score Hamilton and give the Eagles a 7-3 lead that was never challenged.
In the second game, Georgia Southern again jumped on the Elon’s starter in the game’s early stages, scoring two in the bottom of the first.
With runners on second and third and no outs, Morrill grounded out, allowing freshman designated player Taylor Rogers to score. The next batter, Thomas, ripped a single through the right side to score Snider.
The Phoenix answered right away with two runs of its own.
Freshman third baseman Emily Roper pounded a deep drive to center to score sophomore shortstop Emily Cameron, who had led off the inning with a single to left.
Two batters later, senior designated player Johanna Spencer grounded out to score Million, who had walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
The Eagles responded, retaking the lead on a Morrill single to right in the bottom of the second and adding a fourth run in the fourth on a Thomas groundout.
Down 4-2 in the top of the fifth, Nester ripped a double to left center, scoring sophomore left fielder Emilie Rowand and freshman right fielder Alaina Hall and knotting the game at 4-4.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the eighth. With runners on first and second and one out, freshman first baseman Morgan Robinson lined a double to right center to score senior pinch runner Nicole Benton.
The two losses drop the Phoenix to 16-11-1 overall, 1-4 in the Southern Conference, while the Eagles improve to 20-10 overall, 4-1 in conference play.
The Phoenix will conclude the series with the Eagles at 1 p.m. March 23.