Elon University’s softball team split its games in the Elon Phoenix Classic Saturday losing 4-1 to North Carolina A&T State University and beating Fairleigh Dickinson University 6-0. They started off the first game a little slow but picked it up in the second game to pick up their win.

The first game was a defensive show through four innings, with Aggies sophomore center fielder Raven Gray making two diving catches in center field that saved would have been doubles in the gap. Freshman designated player Zadaisha Young-Waddell hit a three-run home run in the top of the sixth to extend A&T’s lead 4-0 over Elon. That homerun was also Waddell’s second home run of the day in the two games NC A&T played.

“As we build our season, we got to get our young people to understand this is how it works,” said head coach Kathy Bocock. “I don’t think we brought the energy in the first game than we should have. Let’s give credit to North Carolina A&T — their center fielder make some incredible plays and they did a great job in wanting that game.” 

In the second game, Elon’s offense woke up, scoring one in the first with an RBI by junior catcher Emily Roper. Sophomore short-stop Hannah Olson was 2-3 with a walk, two runs, and a RBI and Elon’s final run of the game was a solo home-run by freshman designated player Ashtyn Foddrell.

Along with a strong offense, Elon’s freshman starting pitcher Elise Walton threw a complete game shutout. In the seven innings, she gave up only three hits, walking one while striking out five.

“I was using everything and trying to get ahead in the count,” Walton said. “The catchers did great calling and having a great infield behind you makes everything easier and makes you chill out while your pitching.”

The Phoenix continues its tournament on Sunday with another doubleheader against Fairleigh Dickinson, with games at 12:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. 

“Our mindset is going in there not thinking about today’s games either the first or the second,” Olson said. “Just taking them like any other opponent, like we have never played them before and just coming after them.”